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Book lZD _<6 . 

Copyright N°_ . 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: 



Miracles of Grace 
in Japan. 



BY 

Mr. and Mrs. F. L. SMELSER. 




Kansas City, Mo.: 
Franklin Hudson Publishing Co. 

1908. 



3\/^^ 



,S6. 



UBKARY of CONGRESS 
1 wo Copies rteceivetf 

AUG 8 1908 



CLASS t/l AXc. nsu. 



Copyrighted, May 1, 1908, 

by 
Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Smelser. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

What a Testament Found in the Water Did g 

The Wonderful Power of the Bible 19 

A Buddhist Priest 24 

Koizumi San 27 

Light in Darkness 29 

Miya San 33 

Tamado San's Testimony 39 

A Marvelous Work of Grace 44 

Katsura San's Testimony 53 

A Blind Girl's Experience. : 57 

Miyakoda San 63 

Converted Through a Tract 70 

A Marvelous Testimony — Twenty- three Years in 

Prison 72 

Just Because He Loved Me So 1 06 

S — San 109 

Former Drunkard Now Preaching the Gospel 113 

Miyoshi San's Testimony 117 

A Glorious Death 121 

Ho Eisho 127 

Saved From Suicide and a Life of Dissipation 133 

Hosoda San 137 

Saved From Drink 144 

A Little Girl — A Testament and a Robber 147 

Saved From Suicide 151 



PREFACE. 



We have no excuse to make in sending forth 
this little volume, but have felt for some time 
that God would, in a degree at least, be o-lorified 
in its publication. 

The great missionary problem is before the 
world, and the question is often asked, "Does it 
pay to do missionary work in the foreign land?" 
We hope these facts concerning a very few, 
whose lives have been so marvelously trans- 
formed through the light of the Gosnel. may 
help some to answer the above question for 
themselves. 

In choosing material for this book, we have 
been careful to take only such testimonies as 
we know are reliable. 

We have not attempted to put the testimonies 
and experiences in purely English modes of ex- 
pression, but as nearly as possible to convey the 
thought from a Japanese point of view. Friends 
have kindly contributed, and in such cases due 
credit has been given. Where no contributor's 
name is attached, the work of translating was 



6 Miracles in Japan. 

Preface:. 

done by ourselves with the aid of Japanese 
helpers and friends. Some of the testimonies 
are those of our converts at our Gospel Mis- 
sion Hall. 

If, in sending forth this small collection of 
"Miracles of Grace/' it mav be the means, in 
God's hands, of stirring up a few of His peo- 
ple as to their great responsibility and oppor- 
tunities in helping to send forth the Gosnel "in- 
to all the world," we shall feel amply repaid. 
We therefore send it forth in His name. 

Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Smexsex 






WHAT A TESTAMENT FOUND IN 
THE WATER DID. 



In the year 1854 a fleet of English warships 
entered the harbor of Nagasaki. This was be- 
fore any treaty with England, and such an event 
created great excitement. A large force of 
troops was detailed to watch the vessels and 
prevent any trade or intercourse with the peo- 
ple. The commander-in-chief was named Wa- 
kasa Murata, and he was accustomed to °t> out 
in a boat to see that all was right and that no 
secret communication was attempted. 

Bread on the Waters. 

On one of these excursions he discovered in 
the water a small pocket Testament, which was 
quite unlike any book he had ever seen, and he 
was very anxious to know its contents. After 
considerable inquiry, he learned from some Dutch 
interpreter that it told about God and Tesus 
Christ. This only increased his curiositv to un- 
derstand it all ; and, having heard that there was 
a translation in China, he sent to Shanghai and 
procured a copy. Having returned to his home 



io Miracles in Japan*. 

at Saga, he began the study of the Testament, 
and induced four others to join him. One of 
these was a brother named Ayabe, and another 
a relative named Motono. 

Ayabe:. 

In the autumn of 1862 Ayabe came to Na- 
gasaki for further instruction, and was taught 
by the Rev. Dr. Verbeck. During the following 
spring this man came one night to Dr. Verbeck 
and warned him of danger to himself and fam- 
ily if they did not leave at once. It is probable 
that this caution saved their lives, as they fled 
to China and remained there until the serious 
troubles which followed were ended. 

Motono. 

When Dr. Verbeck returned, he found that 
Ayabe had received some Government appoint- 
ment which removed him from Nagasaki, and 
it seemed that all his labors and prayers were 
to be in vain. But, not long after, Mr. Murata 
sent Motono (who had learned to read English) 
with instructions to read over and get explana- 
tions of such portions of the Scriptures as they 
could not understand; and also' to procure any 
books that would be helpful to them in their 
studies of the Word of God. In this manner the 
Eible class was carried on for nearly three years 



Miracles in Japax. 11 

— the faithful messenger often making the two 
days' journey to Nagasaki and returning in due 
time with the desired knowledge. 

"After Many Days." 

On May 14, 1866, a messenger came to Dr. 
Verbeck and announced that some high officials 
from the Province of Hizen had arrived, and 
desired him to appoint a day and hour for an 
interview. To his great joy and surprise, these 
men proved to be Mr. Murata with his brother 
Motono. 

At the appointed time Mr. Murata and his 
train appeared. He was then one of the minis- 
ters of state, or governors of the province. In 
appearance he was tall and dignified, with a most 
pleasing expression. He said to Dr. Verbeck, "I 
have long known you in my mind, and desired 
to converse with you ; and I am very happy that, 
in God's providence, I am at last permitted to 
enjoy this privilege." Two of his sons were 
with him. 

These men had evidently received the word 
with all readiness of mind, and now sought only 
for some additional light in reference to Chris- 
tian character and customs. In the course of 
their conversation Mr. Murata said: "Sir, I 
cannot tell you my feelings when for the first 
time I read the account of the character and 



12 Miracles in Japain. 

work of Jesus Christ. I had never seen, heard 
of, or imagined such a person. I was filled with 
admiration, overwhelmed with emotion, and 
taken captive by the record of his nature and 
life." He showed great familiarity with the 
Bible, made several pertinent quotations, and 
was prepared to believe all that Jesus said, and 
to do whatever He required. 

"What Doth Hinder Mk?" 

After a long conversation on the power and 
love of Christ, Dr. Verbeck was taken quite by 
surprise by the request from Mr. Murata that 
he and his brother should be baptized. It was 
well known that such an act would be attended 
with great peril, as the law at that time strictly 
prohibited the Christian religion. Motono also 
wished for baptism. Dr. Verbeck warned them 
not to entertain any superstitious notions in re- 
gard to the efficacy and imoortance of baptism, 
and told them of the sacred obligations of those 
who received it. After explaining the form, they 
were asked to decide as in the presence of God. 
Without hesitation, the request was repeated, 
with the simple provision that it should not be 
made public, as it would not only endanger their 
own lives, but their families also. Further ex- 
amination showed that their experience had been 
thorough. They felt their sins to be great, and 



Miracles in Japan. 13 

realized the need of a Savior. Recognizing the 
insufficiency of all other systems, they joyfully 
received Christ as their hope for time and for 
eternity. 

The following Sabbath evening was appoint- 
ed for the ceremony, and at the appointed hour 
the three men appeared. Their retainers were 
dismissed with orders to return in an hour. The 
shutters were closed, and, after some words of 
exhortation, they were baptized and partook of 
the sacrament. "Now," said Mr. Murata, "I 
have that which I have long been heartily wish- 
ing for." He then told the story of the book 
found twelve years before in the harbor of Na- 
gasaki, and all {hat it had led to. 

Mr. Murata returned home (like the eunuch 
who had met Philip) rejoicing in the love of 
God and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Dr. 
Verbeck removed to Tokyo, and the account 
sent to America was carefully preserved and for 
a long time was known to but a few. 

Unlooked-for Visitors. 

In April, 1880, the Rev. Mr. Booth, of Naga- 
saki, was surprised one Sabbath morning to see 
in his audience two strangers : a lady of evident 
rank and her attendant. They sat in front, and 
not only gave the most strict attention, but of- 
ten during the service would wipe the tears from 



14 Miracles in Japan. 

their eyes. At the close they introduced them- 
selves, the one as the daughter of Mr. Murata, 
and the other as her former nurse. They were 
anxious to have an interview at once, but were 
requested to wait until the next day. 

Early the next morning they appeared and 
told how faithfully they had been taueht about 
the true God and Jesus Christ the Savior. They 
had learned the Lord's Prayer and a few oor- 
tions of Scripture, which Mr. Murata had writ- 
ten out in simple characters for their special 
use. Mr. Murata had died eight years before, 
with a firm hope of eternal life through the Re- 
deemer. The daughter had m^ried and was 
now living with her family in Nagasaki. Since 
the removal of Dr. Verbeck, she knew of no 
Christian or missionary to whom she could go 
for sympathy and instruction. Her husband was 
soon to remove to Osaka, and she did not wish 
to leave until she had received baptism; so she 
went to Saga for her old friend and nurse, and 
together they set out to find a missionary. 

At first they discovered a Catholic Driest, 
who gave them a prayer-book; but upon exam- 
ining it they decided that this must be a differ- 
ent kind of teaching from that which they had 
before received. They did not dare to make 
inquiries on the streets, as they would be sus- 
pected of being Christians, and would onlv. be 



Miracles in Japan. 15 

treated with insults. After wandering about for 
some days, thev chanced to find a store where 
Scriptures of the American Bible Society were 
kept for sale. They saw on the covers some fa- 
miliar characters, and so they went in and began 
to examine the books. On opening the Gospel 
of Matthew they saw the Sermon on the Mount, 
and recognizing it as the same they had already 
learned, their joy was unbounded. They pur- 
chased a full supply of Scriotures at once, and 
talked with the bookseller until midnight. This 
was on Saturday, and it was the next day they 
appeared at the service. Now they both desired 
baptism at once. 

Mr. Booth asked why they were so desirous 
of receiving this rite. They replied, "Whoso- 
ever believeth and is baptized, shall be saved." 
And when he said, "How can I know that you 
are true believers?" the young woman replied, 
"It has been my custom for years to go into my 
husband's storehouse every day for private med- 
itation and prayer to God, and the Father of 
Jesus Christ." To the question, "How do you 
know this salvation is for you?" they replied, 
"It is written, 'Whosoever will, let him take the 
water of life freely.' " With tearful eyes they 
begged that they might not be denied the sacred 
ordinance. 



1 6 Miracles in Japan. 

Rejoicing in God. 

A time was fixed for the ceremony, and the 
intervening days were spent in careful Christian 
instruction. At the appointed time the lady was 
accompanied by her husband, who listened with 
close attention to all the service, and at its close 
expressed a desire to know more of Christianity. 
"We can never," said Mr. Booth, "forget the 
expression of peaceful joy which shone in the 
faces of the two women as they went away. 
When I met them afterward they would talk of 
nothing but Christianity, and seemed to be very 
happy to be called Christians." 

Fruitful in Good Works. 

The nurse returned to her old home in Saga 
and resumed her work of teachine a small 
school of girls. She soon organized a class of 
women for the study of the Bible, and after a 
time began a Sabbath-school with the members 
of the Bible class as teachers. There is now a 
considerable number of professing Christians in 
that town, and many of them have been brought 
to Christ through her efforts. Although she 
has gone to her reward in heaven, the work has 
not ceased. Among the believers is a son of 
Mr. Murata. A request has been sent to Naga- 
saki for a regular oreacher, a church formed, 



Miracles in Japan. 19 

and this is to-day one of the bright spots in 
Kiushiu. 

"And Thy House:." 

The daughter of Murata (Mrs. Kumashiro) 
went with her husband and family to Osaka, 
where she soon became one of the leaders in 
Christian activity and benevolence. Her dis- 
tinguished rank and earnest devotion gave her 
great influence. When her husband returned 
from a trip to some island, and reported that 
he had there found a people who were without 
any religion, she went to the pastor and begged 
that some one would go and teach them, and of- 
fered to pay half the salary and expenses her- 
self. She has since removed to Tokyo, and after 
attending the training school for Christian wom- 
en, has devoted herself to work for the salva- 
tion of those around her. Her husband has been 
led to Christ by her example and the study of 
God's Word, and is a deacon in the Sukiyabashi 
church. Like his wife, he is active and interested 
in everything that tends to the spread of God's 
kingdom. A daughter has made a profession of 
religion and is the wife of a telegraph operator 
in northern Japan. 

Ayabk. Again. 
About fifteen years ago, Dr. Verbeck was 



20 MlRACMS IN JAP\N\ 

acting as an interpreter at a meeting in Tokyo, 
and at the close a man stepped forward and said 
to him, "I am Ayabe, the brother of Mr. Mura- 
ta. Since my baptism I have been in the army, 
and also employed in surveying. During all 
these years I have always carried the Bible with 
me, and have been accustomed to read it daily." 

Ayabe called at the Bible House and con- 
firmed the above narrative. He was then living 
in Tokyo, and was for some time employed as 
a local preacher of the Methodist Church. Thus 
he has also become an active and useful worker 
in the extension of Christ's kingdom in Japan. 

The Rev. Dr. Gordon, of Kyoto, reports that 
a grandson of Mr. Murata was for a while a 
student in the Christian school (the Doshisha) 
at that place, and presented to the institution a 
fine English Bible which Mr. Murata was con- 
strained to place in the care of a friend in order 
to avoid suspicion from the authorities, and 
which was in that friend's care until very 
recently. 

— Rev. H. Loomis. 



Miracles in Japan. 21 

The Wonderful Power oe the BibeE. 

A retainer of Tokugawa, Tsuda by name, 
who had an annual income of twenty-five hun- 
dred koku* of rice, had a son called Asashiro 
Muramatsu, born of a concubine. After the 
Meiji Revolution, Tsuda went to Chiba, taking 
his wife, his eldest son and his youngest daugh- 
ter with him. But young Asashiro's own moth- 
er took her boy to Yoshida Mura, Haibara Gori, 
in the province of Totomi. 

It was not easy for the -mother to support 
herself and her son by the work of her own 
hands, and so the two were taken into an un- 
cle's house and supported. But this uncle was 
a fisherman and paid no attention to his voung 
nephew's education, and the boy was thus ex- 
posed to all sorts of wild allurements and 
temptations. 

Finally, when he was seventeen years old he 
stole forty-eight yen from a man called Kishi- 
bata, of the same village, and was imprisoned for 
a hundred days. This punishment awoke his 
conscience from its slumber and he repented of 
his wrong-doings. 

But the influence of bad associations in the 
prison was stronger than his desire to reform. 
He did not succeed in ridding himself entirely 

* A koku is a measure equal to a little over 5 bushels . 
—Eds. 

2- 



22 Miracles in Japan. 

of his evil habits, and, getting into company 
with a noted rascal of the place named Takoichi , 
he wandered about for a while indulging in sun- 
dry robberies. 

By and by he changed the character of his 
occupation and became a pickpocket. The rail- 
way from Hiroshima to Aomori was his accus- 
tomed sphere of operations. He was noted 
among his friends for his fine mode of dress- 
ing. But he was often arrested, and was im- 
prisoned ten times. 

In March of 1895 he was sentenced to a con- 
finement of six months in the prison of Hyogo 
Ken. There he occupied the same cell with a 
man who one day wrote to his home askine for 
certain' documents or letters. 

But the wife of this man, mistaking his 
meaning, thought he wanted a book, and as .she 
knew that her husband could read only such 
books as had the kana (Japanese letters) printed 
alongside of the Chinese characters, she went to 
a second-hand book-store, and out of the pile 
of books offered for sale she picked out a Bi- 
ble, thinking that that would suit her husband 
well, as it had the kana. Thus the wife sent 
the Book to her husband without herself know- 
ing what it was, or anything about it. 

The man was surprised and disappointed to 
receive a book instead of what he had asked 



Miracles in Japan. 23 

for. He showed it to the pickpocket, Asashiro, 
asking if he knew what book it was. Asashiro, 
after examining the book closely, said that it was 
a Christian book. When the man heard this, he 
threw the book away with disgust, never to 
touch it again. 

But Asashiro picked up the book and com- 
menced reading it in order to pass away the 
time. When he read the thirteenth verse of the 
ninth chapter of the Gospel according to St. 
Matthew, "For I am not come to call the rieht- 
eous, but sinners, to repentance," he was struck 
with a new and bright thought. The hope that 
even such a great sinner as he might become a 
true man took stronger and stronger possession 
of his heart, til} finally he bought a copy of the 
Bible for himself and began to study it. 

Fortunately there was a man named Mataki 
in the prison who knew something about Chris- 
tianity and also knew of Mr. Kamekichi Wata- 
nabe who was converted in the same prison some 
years before, and who was then working in the 
Okayama Orphan Asylum. This man encour- 
aged Asashiro very much, telling him to call on 
Mr. Watanabe after he got released. 

Well, he was released at last, on the six- 
teenth of September. His old friends impor- 
tuned him to join their number again, but he 
did his best to get away from them; and while 



24 Miracles in Japan. 

he was staying at the house of an acquaintance, 
he went on the 6th of October to Tamon Church 
to hear Christian preaching. There, when the 
meeting was over, he received a copy of the 
magazine called Koyekkzvo. 

While he was reading this magazine at his 
home, he saw a notice to the effect that Rev. 
Osada would receive inquirers and answer their 
questions on Mondays. Soon the desire to see 
the pastor, to repent of his sins and to ask ad- 
vice about his future life sprang up in his breast. 
Repeatedly he made the attempt to call on the 
pastor, but hesitated. Finally, after a great 
struggle in his heart, he followed his determina- 
tion. He saw Rev. Osada and with tears ex- 
pressed his desire to become a true man. 

The pastor was exceedingly glad of his con- 
version, and, telling him about Mr. Watanabe at 
Okayama Orphan Asylum, advised him to go 
there too, for he would find himself useful tnere 
as he knew about silk-weaving. At first Mura- 
matsu hesitated, but finally decided to. 

In the evening of that day he sailed for Oka- 
yama in a boat. There he saw Messrs. Ishii and 
Watanabe, and, after making arrangements about 
his coming, he returned to Kobe, where he made 
application to the police station for permission 
to remove his place of residence to the Oka- 
yama Orphan Asylum. While waiting for this 



Miracles in Japan. 25 

permission, he called on the pastor and other 
Christians and attended Bible classes and other 
meetings in order to escape from the temptations 
that surrounded him. 

Finally Mr. Muramatsu went to Okayama 
and was for a time an assistant in the orohanage 
there. Since then he has been thoroughly inter- 
ested in the study of God's Word and an active 
worker for Christ in various places. 

— Rev. H. Loo mis. 



A BUDDHIST PRIEST. 



Gikai Watanabe was a priest who had lived 
in a temple until twenty-five years of age. He 
studied their books and teachings on abnegation 
and thought he would eventually become a Bud- 
dha. He became a devotee of the most fanat- 
ical sect to be found in Japan and went through 
some of the most horrible self-tortures and in- 
cantations imaginable. At one time he went to 
a sacred water-fall, and, staying there twenty- 
one days, fasted and bathed in its waters. As 
he had taken no food all this time, he was at the 
point of death, and in this condition was found 
by the police and put under a physician's care. 
Thus he gradually recovered. At other times 
he would torture his body by placing burning 
candles on his arms until the flesh was burned 
to the bone, and by putting burning oil in the 
palms of his hands and standing in burning oil 
until his hands and feet were horribly burned. 
In other ways these tortures were continued 
until his limbs became crippled for life. 

Watanabe's followers became numerous, as 
they thought he was a holy man, and they would 




Watanobe San, Converted Priest. 



Miracles in Japan. 29 

pray to him as a god, even praying to the long- 
flag or streamer that he had made for himself, 
as it was carried through the streets, that they 
might have virtue and healing physically. Wa- 
tanabe received much money for praying for 
the people, and was thus enabled to support 
himself. 

But all this could not give him peace at 
heart; instead, the burden of sin became heav- 
ier and heavier. At last, in his extremity and 
soul-hunger, he sought out an old missionary, 
Rev. J. H. Ballagh, one of the pioneer mission- 
aries, and asked to be taught about Christianity. 
After giving him some instruction in the Bible, 
Mr. Ballaeh referred him to our early morning 
Bible class. He came one morning, and at the 
close of the Bible lesson he was asked to remain 
and have a talk with us, which he very willingly 
did. It was then that he gave himself to God 
and became a Christian. After he had prayed 
and confessed Jesus as his Savior, he arose, and, 
putting his weak, withered hand over his heart, 
said that he had peace there that he had never 
before known. He then told us that he had an 
appointment that morning to go to a temple to 
torture himself and pray for a sick nerson, for 
which he was to receive six and a half yen 
($3.25), but he left word that he would rather go 
instead to our Bible class, which choice he was 
very glad he had taken. 



30 Miraci^s in Japan. 

After this Watanabe was much temoted to 
return to his idol-worship, as it was his only 
means of support. He had never known what 
it was to do any kind of work, but now, since 
he became a Christian, he was determined to do 
his best, and went to work with great earnest- 
ness. He finally secured a colporteurage in the 
Bible Society, in which work he remained for 
some time. 

Watanabe has proven a faithful Christian 
for the last seven years. He started a little or- 
phanage about sixty miles from Yokohama, 
where he is now engaged in that work. His 
entire support comes from a friend in America. 

As we see men of all classes and conditions 
redeemed through the blood of our Savior and 
set to work for souls, we must acknowledge that 
it does pay to carry the Gospel to those in dark- 
ness. All men and even children may have a 
part in spreading ths Light of the Gospel of 
Christ. 




A High Priest. 



KOIZUMI SAN. 



S. Koizumi was a rough, violent young man. 
He learned to be immoral from a youth. He 
attended high school, but, because of his drink- 
ing-, frequenting the bad quarters and making 
trouble in school, he was disliked by both teach- 
ers and students. He was given much to dis- 
sipation and squandered heaps of money. 

Once, after spending 70 yen ($35) in one 
night, his parents and relatives became angry 
and reproved him sharply. They also threat- 
ened to disinherit him unless he reformed. This 
he tried hard to do, but found himself helpless 
— with no power whatever to give up his life of 
drunkenness and immorality. This being the 
case, he was at last disowned and cast off by 
his parents. Regardless of this, he continued 
to squander money and went lower and lower 
into sin. He soon had squandered 4,000 yen 
($2,000). His uncle declared it was better to 
throw money into the water than to give it to 
this nephew. His friend said if Koizumi San 
should change his sinful life, then a cooked fish 
would swim (meaning an impossibility). 

At times he felt convicted, dissatisfied and 



34 Miracxss in Japan. 

extremely sorrowful, and tried to become a 
moral man, but could not do so. Seeking peace 
and deliverance, he studied books of Confucius, 
but failed to receive help. Once he became a 
Buddhist and, staying at a temple, fasted and 
prayed for heart-peace and power to give up 
his evil habits. Failing again to receive help, 
he continued his life of dissipation and drunk- 
enness and lived in continual misery. 

On New Year's evening of 1904 he had been 
drinking, but it brought him no peace of heart 
nor satisfaction. Passing along a certain street 
in Tokyo, he heard music, and out of curiosity 
he went in and found it to be a Gospel Mission. 
Here he heard the Gospel preached as well as 
testimonies given of God's saving power. After 
the meeting had finished, he remained and gave 
his heart to. God. He at last found deliverance 
from drink and immorality through faith in 
Jesus Christ. Sorrow and dissatisfaction van- 
ished, and love, joy and peace filled his heart. 
He became an entirely changed man — kind and 
gentle to every one. 

Six months after his conversion he felt called 
to preach the Gospel to others, and later en- 
tered a Bible School for training. At present 
he is preaching the Word and working for souls. 
He often says : "Praise God for saving even me, 
the chief of sinners, who was forsaken by my 
family, relations and friends." 




Takasaburo Yoshimasu. 

(As he was.) 



LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 



Among the many sad results of the war be- 
tween Russia and Japan, there is one of special 
interest. It is a comfort, however, to know that, 
with the help of God, what may seem a hopeless 
disaster may prove to be a great blessing. 

The story of one of the soldiers is given by 
Mrs. McCauley thus: 

" 'I married a beautiful young woman just a 
month before being ordered to the front, and 
life looked very bright to me. It was a star of 
hope. But when I fell crushed by a shell, how I 
longed for death ! Must I go back with a face 
so disfigured that my wife would look on me 
with horror and I could never see her face again, 
or any of those whom I loved? The torture of 
mind was worse than the excruciating agony I 
endured from physical pain. 

" 'When it seemed I must live, I in my mind 
planned to take my own life. Why not? It was 
honorable not to be a burden to my beloved 
ones, and I could never see the little son that 
was born in February. But when your mission- 
aries came to the hospital and sang even the 

37 



38 Miracles in Japan. 

first hymn, I began to see with my soul ; and 
when you prayed, I began to pray; and light 
came in little by little. You gave me a Bible, 
but I was dependent on someone else to read 
to me. But even in this I saw a way to reach 
others, and the thought of suicide left me. 

"Then a day came when you brought me 
a Bible with raised characters that I could feel. 
It was the Gospel of John, and in a week I had 
learned the characters, read six chapters and 
could find my place. My comrades, who pitied 
me so much, would come to hear me read, and 
it seemed to them almost a miracle. Then you 
brought me the blind man's tablet, so that now 
I can write. Why, I can hardly take time to 
sleep, it is so fascinating; and my first letter 
will be to you, Miss Wirick, who has with Mr. 
Kami been my savior. [Miss Wirick and Mi. 
Kami went to the blind school and learned the 
Braille system in order to teach this man.] 1 
have written two or three letters, but they had 
some mistakes, and I want you to have a perfect 
letter. Yes, I have now light in the darkness.' 
"He is one of the happiest of men." 
The following is a copy of a letter written in 
point character, after his discharge from the 
hospital and return to his home : 




Takasaburo Yoshimasu. 
{As he now is.) 



Miracles in Japan. 41 

"Uramachi Awaji, July 6. 1905. 
"Rev. H. Loomis: 

"While in the Toyama Hospital, I was told 
much about God 3 and I was also given by you 
copies of the Gospels of John and Mark in raised 
characters for the blind. 

"By means of verbal teaching and reading 
of the Gospels, I have come to believe in the 
unlimited love of God and obtained peace of 
mind. I thank God for all this very much; and 
you also, who led me to this happiness. 

"Takasaburo Yoshimasu." 

Copy of another letter addressed to the men 
who had lost their sight while fighting for their 
country : 

"I was ushered' into the world of darkness, 
like yourselves, in the siege of Port Arthur, and 
was at the Toyama Hospital up to the 8th of 
June. 

"I am greatly rejoiced that you are reading 
the Word of God, or the Bible. Indeed, the love 
of God is fathomless. He has given us His only 
begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in order 
to save us from our sins. Can you conceive of 
a greater love than this? Though we are full 
of sins and uncleanness, Jesus Christ, our Lord, 
has promised to forgive and cleanse us by His 
sufferings and His blood that has been shed on 



42 , Miracles in Japan. 

the Cross, if we only repent of our sins and en- 
trust ourselves to Him. 

"It is indeed very sad for us that we have 
become blind, but you mus.t not be discouraged, 
nor injure your health by brooding over your 
misfortune. We have lost our eyes of the flesh, 
indeed, but have been more than recompensed 
by being given the eyes of faith, which enable 
us to see the true God, who has power to cleanse 
us from all sins and uncleanness. We ought to 
rejoice that, by sacrificing a part of the body, 
we have obtained this great salvation. 

"I exhort you that, like myself, you believe 
in Jesus Christ, and, through Him, ask God for 
the salvation of your souls. Then you will have 
comfort and rejoicing. There was a time when 
I was so much discouraged,' and in such agony 
of mind that I was led to think that there was 
nothing but death that could save me from this 
suffering. But, of late, by the blessing of God, 
I have obtained true joy and peace of heart, and 
am now getting on very happily. 

"Hoping that you will be able to leave the 
hospital in a short time, 

"Takasaburo Yoshimasu." 
— Rev. H. Loomis. 




Miya San. 



MIYA SAX. 



"My condition was that of one running in 
dense darkness without a ray of light. I would 
pull a jinrikiska in which some one was riding, 
and I was proud and thought I knew the way, 
but did not. Being ignorant of the dangerous 
road and pitfalls before me, I proudly went on 
in the darkness without a light, like a foolish 
person. At last I fell into an awful swamp. 
Being shocked at the fall, I now regretted my 
deplorable condition of being without a light. 
Looking up, I cried to heaven for help and was 
shown a wonderful light — the light of the Gos- 
pel. This helped me out of the mire and also 
to retrace my steps and start me on a new way 
— the way of righteousness. This way was one 
of great hope and peace. All about is dark- 
ness, but this light penetrates through it and 
enables me to run on my way in peace and 
safety. Now I am not simnlv traveling this way 
myself, but am taking others along by exhort- 
ing and influencing my friends and others to go 
with me. 

"I was born in Horinouchi, a village of about 

45 



46 Miracles in Japan. 

600 houses, in the Province of Niigata. My 
father was a merchant who dealt in cotton crepe. 
He was quite well-to-do, but not wealthy, and 
a very zealous believer in Buddhism. He did 
not drink and was an honest, hard-working man. 
He had three boys and one girl. I was the third 
child — the jinrik is ha -puller. 

"In 1880 a public school was started in our 
village and I entered at the age of seven. With 
good grades, I finished this school in 1886. At 
that time I had great hopes of becoming one of 
the most famous merchants of Japan some day. 
Hearing from a friend about Tokyo with its 
splendor and wealthy merchants, such as Messrs. 
Iwasaki, Mitsui, etc., I felt envious of these 
merchants and wished to go to Tokyo and make 
my fortune. My father was going to put me 
in a temple and make a Buddhist priest of me, 
but I told him I wished to become a merchant. 
He at last consented and sent me to help and 
learn to be a merchant under Mr. R. Ito, of oui 
village. After being with him for two years, I 
secretly ran away to Tokyo. I went over the 
city sight-seeing and was surprised at the large 
crowds and noisy streets. I envied the owners 
of the large buildings. Thinking this just the 
place to carry out my plans, I started out to find 
work. While looking for something to do, I 
met some bad boys, who induced me to go with 



Miracles in Japan. - 47 

them to the Yoshiwara, the bad quarter of the 
city. That step was the beginning of a life of 
dissipation, and my great hopes were all blasted. 
After living in Tokyo for about two years, my 
father became anxious about my condition and 
sent for me to return home. 

"After returning home, I helped my father 
in his business. Having access to plenty of 
money, I continued my life of drunkenness and 
dissipation. I had no idea of morality and went 
on recklesssly in sin. I was forced to marry 
the daughter of a well-to-do farmer in order 
to save her from disgrace. She was the heiress 
of her father's estate. Two boys were born un- 
to us. I soon squandered all my wife's money 
through my sinful life. 

"In 1898 I again ran away to Tokvo, leav- 
ing my wife and children in a destitute condi- 
tion. My heart was so hardened that I did not 
think that I was doing wrong in leaving them 
thus. 

"In Tokyo I worked at a hotel for six 
months. Then, after disgracing the pronrietor's 
daughter, I escaped to Yokohama and continued 
in my sins. My means being very limited, I 
soon squandered what I had, and finding myself 
so poor, I became a jinrikisha-puller to make a 
living. 

"I first worked as jinrikisha-puWer in Ashi- 



4 8 Miraci.es in Japan. 

biki Street, and here learned the sins common to 
these men, cheating, gambling, etc. I gambled 
everything away until at one time I had only 
one garment left. When I would win and get 
some money, I always squandered it in vice. 
When drunk, I was often unkind and cruel to 
those who were good to me. At last I hired out 
to a brothel-keeper as jinrikisha-puMer and con- 
tinued my drinking worse than ever. 

"I found it took so much Japanese sake (rice 
beer) to affect me that I wished for something 
stronger. On July n, 1906, I drank alcohol. 
This made me wild and I went up and down the 
street fighting the people I met and crying out 
with a loud voice. At last a crowd of people 
gathered around and beat me till I was much 
bruised, helpless, and unconscious. That night 
the police took care of me. The next morning 
when I came to myself the suffering and agony 
was so great that I resolved never to drink 
again. However, I was powerless to help my- 
self, and when my wounds were again well I 
began to drink again; but, fearing the results, 1 
did not give myself wholly over to drunkenness 
as before. My sins and dissipation brought on 
diseases, from which I suffered very much. 

"On the night of August 1, 1906, I went to 
Issezaki (Theatre) Street on business, and, as I 
was returning, I came to the Gospel Mission 



Miracles in Japan. 49 

and thought I would just step in to see what 
was going on. The preacher was preaching very 
earnestly about salvation from sin. Everything 
seemed to fit me as if said especially for me. 
Plow surprised I was to find there had been such 
a place on this street in the middle of the city 
all the time, of which I had been heretofore 
ignorant — a place where people are taught with- 
out price the blessed way of salvation, the way 
of a clean life and a happy home, etc. How I 
regretted not having heard of this way before ! 
I praise God and always shall that He, such a 
God of love, heard even mv prayer when I con- 
fessed my sins and surrendered myself to Him. 
He gave me this wonderful licht that shone in- 
to my heart and life of blackest darkness. My 
sins were all blotted out and I entered into a 
new way of righteousness. 

"Through the precious redemption of Christ 
I was delivered and made free from the power 
of sin, with a hope for the future, and set run- 
ning on this new way of peace. Then, through 
this light, I could realize the dreadful road in 
which I had been traveling and trembled for 
fear of turning my face backward. One who is 
living in darkness cannot see the danger that 
lies before them, but when the light begins to 
come, the swamps and dangerous places are vis- 
ible. I now have received eternal life. The 






50 Miracles in Japan. 

jinrikisha-puller who was running without a 
light died and was raised to a new life in Christ 
Jesus and is now running safely in the way of 
righteousness with the new light." 






TAMADO SAN'S TESTIMONY. 



"I am working at the planning-room of the 
Kawasaki Dock Companv. Kobe. Once, when 
passing the Minatogawa Bank, I saw a crowd 
of people at an open-air meeting, which was 
being held by the workers and Christians from 
the Kobe Mission Hall, and I was led to stop 
and listen to the preacher, whom I afterwards 
found was the Rev. Mr. Mitani. The subject 
of his address was Luke 19:1-11. It moved me 
very much, and showed me that even such a 
vicious and degraded sinner as I was would not 
be forsaken, for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sa- 
vior, had nailed my unrighteousness, immorality 
and transgressions to His Cross. I believed He 
would forgive me if only I would confess my 
sins and believe on Him. I promised Mr. Mi- 
tani to come to the Mission Hall. On the 226. 
of July, 1906 (a Sunday niVhtV I did so, and 
with Mr. Mitani's help, I confessed my sins, 
prayed for forgiveness, and believed that I was 
forgiven and born again. Since then, through 
the power of the Holy Soirit, I have been able 
to live a righteous life. Before my conversion 

51 



5 2 Miracles in Japan. 

I was very quick-tempered, and had little love 
for others, but the Lord gave me a new spirit 
of love and made me mild, forbearing, and pa- 
tient about everything. I had been overcome by 
lusts — adultery, drinking, and covetousness — but 
now the Lord has taken them awav. and helps 
me who had no power against them. Formerly 
my hopes were centered upon the riches, hon- 
ors and knowledge of this world, but now I 
have put all these on God's altar and have no 
need of them, for the Lord said to me : "Thy 
treasure is in the heavenly kingdom." Thus the 
Lord purified my soul and gave me everlasting 
life from His loving hand, therefore I am prais- 
ing Him daily with thanksgiving. The God to 
whom we now look up is our Lord and Savior, 
Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the lambs. 

"I am now in my twenty-eighth year. The 
object of my life from my sixteenth year till my 
conversion, that is during twelve years, has been 
all broken down; but God has given me a new 
ambition these seven months, and by my own ex- 
perience I know it is greatly superior to the old 
one. Praise God ! Amen. 
'January 16, 1907." 

— Japan Evangelistic Band Quarterly. 



THE RESULT OF A GOSPEL PORTION 



"I am but a boy, yet my life has been so 
crowded full of sorrow that I feel very old. 1 
have not much of a recollection of home, except 
that father was a drunkard and went to a drunk- 
ard's grave. I was sent out to work, but my 
master was cruel and cross and it seemed every- 
thing I did was just the opposite of what be 
wanted, and, although I would do my best, yet 
I never succeeded in pleasing him. Night after 
night, as I would lie down to sleep, ft would be 
but to weep all night ; nobody loved me ; all I 
knew was cruelty, and decided I would take 
my life. So one dark night in October I went 
down to the river, and, as I stood on the bridge 
and watched the clear flowing water, it looked 
so restful and peaceful, and I thought, 'Oh, to 
just be buried beneath it, what a relief it would 
be!' I picked up some stones and put them in 
my sleeve. It was late and all was dark around 
me, only here and there along the shores would 
I catch the glimmer of a light from out the 
homes, and I thought, 'Ah ! they are happy there, 
but there is no hope for me.' I looked about 

53 



54 Miraci^s in Japan. 

me, no one was near, and I plunged in. The 
waters were cold and I felt afraid; I struggled 
for awhile and went down, but came up. Some 
one took hold of my coat; it was a fisherman 
who was out with his fishing-smack, and he 
drew me up into it and said: 'Did you fall off 
the bridge?' I did not tell him, but he took me 
to a friend of his and changed my wet clothes. 
I felt that I could not return to my old master, 
so I looked for work and found a man who was 
very kind, so opposite to the old place. He 
trusted me and gave me good clothes, but my 
heart was in such unrest. I went to the temple 
and worshiped with all my heart, but I could 
get no relief. My master was an earnest wor- 
shiper, and we would go together, but still that 
old restlessness was in my heart. One day 
someone came along with a bag over his back; 
he stopped in front of our shop and cave me a 
little booklet called 'The Way to be Saved.' 

"My master makes fun of me and sa^s, 'What 
has happened to you ?' and T tell him Jesus saved 
me and sing the song to him: 

" 'Take the name of Jesus with you, 
Child of sorrow and of woe. 
It will joy and comfort give you ; 
Take it then where'er you go.' 



Miracles in Japan. 55 

"He keeps me victorious. This has been a 
glorious four months, because my heart is right 
and I have Jesus with me. 

"Tokyo. A Convert." 

— Cowman & Kilboume. 



A MARVELOUS WORK OF GRACE. 



Aikawa's experience has been one of six- 
teen years and nine months in prison for com- 
mitting eleven crimes and stealing $100,000. His 
native province is Bunyo, Kyushu. 

In the year 1879 Aikawa San went to Tokyo, 
and in the autumn of the same year he became 
a policeman, working at the Police Inspector's 
office. In March of the next year he came to 
Yokohama, where he was employed in the same 
business. He was soon promoted to the posi- 
tion next the police sergeant, but he was very 
fond of strong drink, and led a very sinful and 
dissipated life. He became a real slave to the 
liquor habit and drank several quarts of sake 
a day. 

One day Mr. S , who was working in 

the same office, was standing by the stove where 
Aikawa San was, and, taking out of his pocket 
a small Testament, handed it to him and asked 
him to read it. He asked what it was and was 
told it was a Bible. On hearing this, he imme- 
diately threw it into the stove, saying: "I do 
not believe in Jesus and have no use for his 

56 




Aikawa San. 



Miracles in Japan. 59 

teachings." The following day he was given 

another Bible by Mr. S , and it was also 

thrown into the stove. The following day it 
was repeated. On the fourth day, when the 

Bible was handed to him, Mr. S told him 

he felt that something terrible would happen to 
him if he did not read it. This came as a sur- 
prise to him, and he was somewhat touched, as 

he felt that Mr. S meant what he said, 

and that the words were given in kindness to 
him. The precious Book was kept this time, out 
of respect to the giver, but with no intention 
whatever of reading it. 

Because of excessive drinking and other evil 
habits, he gave up his work in Yokohama in 
September, 1882, and returned to his mother 
in Osaka. He was a policeman there for some 
time and then later at the village of Ikeda. In 
1883 he was discharged, and, after being hired 
by the city office and again discharged, because 
of his bad habits, he returned to Tokvo, where 
he associated with the most vile of companions. 
At last he became a robber and was joined by 
several others. They succeeded in robbing 
eighteen places in and about Tokyo and Yoko- 
hama without being caught. In Mav, 1884, two 
of them were captured and Aikawa escaped to 
Osaka. Here he joined with other robbers and 
was caught; but, as no robbery could be proven 



60 MiracIvES in Japan. 

against him, he was senteneced to six months' 
imprisonment for fraud. He was set free on 
parole. At this time he thought seriously of 
his past life and was in such misery and under 
such condemnation that he decided to confess 
out to the police. This he did, but lied about 
his age, so was sentenced to prison for only 

seven years. The warning Mr. S had 

given him had come true. He had rejected the 
Bible and its teachings and now found himself 
shut up behind prison bars. Soon after being 
imprisoned he became seriously ill and was agam 
made to think much of his past life, and for 
the first time had a real desire to reform and 
do better. One day he asked a Buddhist priest, 
who frequently visited the prison, to let him 
read some of his religious books. The priest 
replied angrily: "It will do no good for such a 
wicked man as you to read them." At this Ai- 
kawa San became furiously angry, and, tearing 
the priest's clothes, called him many vile names. 
He then took worse and had high fever. That 
night he had a dream in which he thought a 

foreigner, Mr. S , gave him a book to 

read. The next day he talked his heart out to 
a Christian jailer by the name of Hiromichi, 
and told him of his desire to become a better 
man. The jailer, taking a Bible out of his 
pocket said: "It is against the rules for me to 



Miracles in Japan. 6i 

give you anything; but anyway I risk giving 
you this to read, for it is just what you need." 
He was much impressed and surprised at the 
great difference between these two men — the 
priest and the jailer. The office of the priest 
was to give spiritual help and that of the jailer 
only temporal. 

He began to read the New Testament, but 
stopped after reading the Sermon on the Mount. 
Being ignorant of the power of God, this teach- 
ing of Jesus Christ seemed too difficult for him to 
ever be able to follow, so he thought it was use- 
less to continue reading it, and gave it back to 
the jailer, who said nothing, but silentH orayed. 
He then listened earnetly to the teachings of 
Buddha, still seeking help, but finding none. 
One night was spent in wakefulness thinking 
over his past sinful life. He was reminded of 
the Japanese proverb, ''Good medicine is al- 
ways bitter," and decided to again turn to the 
Bible. He borrowed it of the jailer and read 
the four Gospels. 

He says: "I found the same thino-s written 
so often that it seemed very peculiar to me, so 
I inquired of the jailer about it, who said.: 'That 
is the best part about it, for it shows the parts 
that are repeated are especially good and blessed. 
God's power is revealed in the Old Testament 
and salvation in the New Testament.' ' ! He 



62 Miracles in Japan. 

bought a New Testament of his own, but could 
not understand it. The jailer gave him a Chris- 
tian pamphlet, which was a great help to him, 
so he began to read his Testament with new 
interest. 

In February, 1894, he was released on parole 
irom the Horizaka prison, at Osaka. Although 
he had a desire to live a better life, the Bible 
was again laid aside. Having no place to go, 
he was at a loss to know what to do, but finally 
found a gambling-house to lodge in and later 
went to his mother (step-mother), who lived in 
Wakayama. He quarreled with her concerning 
his marriage and at last ran away to Osaka with 
one of the neighbor girls (now his wife). They 
both found work in a silk factory. He again 
began to drink and soon ran short of means, 
going lower and lower into sin. He began to 
rob again, but was soon caught by the police. 
While being detained at the police station, he 
escaped and hid himself, but was caught later 
in the dry bed of the river, and was again sent 
to the Osaka prison. Here he was visited by 
his wife, who was then in feeble health, and he 
was greatly touched by her tender words of 
reproof and exhortation. The Word of God 
came back to his mind, and for the first time he 
really repented of his' sins before God and be- 
lieved in Jesus Christ as his Savior. For some 



Miracles in Japan. 63 

time after his wife returned, he was very anx- 
ious about her condition and was quite depressed 
in spirit. News soon came, however, of the 
birth of a little son, and he was greatly rejoiced. 
He wished to help his wife in some way, and 
asked the warden for permission to send some 
money to her. As they had not been legally 
married, .the request was not granted. After 
repeatedly being refused, he became angry and 
decided to take no food until his request was 
granted. The first few days he found it very 
hard, but after that it was easier. After fast- 
ing ten days, he became very weak and partly 
unconscious. After twelve days, his condition 
seemed serious. The warden was surprised at 
his determined will and granted his request. He 
was granted also the special privilege of doing 
nothing but study the Bible. There was such a 
marvelous change in his life that he was held 
up as an example for others This change, as 
he testified, was wrought by the oower of God 
and His Word. 

In 1902, after six years, he was again freed 
from prison bars. Having long desired to see 
his wife and embrace his child for the first time, 
he hastened home. He says : "As I came near, 
I saw the house was old and almost in ruins, 
the wall had partly fallen in, the mats entirely 
worn out, and a ragged mosquito net hanging 



64 Miracles in Japan. 

in the room. I saw no one, but called. My 
wife appeared — but what a change ! She was 
a pitiful sight — clothed in rags. I tried to com- 
fort her. With tears she begged me not to re- 
turn to my former sinful ways. My child, whom 
I had so long wished to embrace, would not 
come near me. He declared I was not his father. 
This was no doubt because other children had 
teased him about his father being in prison. It 
was unspeakably painful to me, and I thought I 
never could think of returning to my old life 
of sin again." . 

From Nakayama he took his family to Osaka, 
where the Christians helped him. Knowing this 
help was only temporary, he did all he could to 
find work. At last he found a position, but as 
soon as they found out that he had been in 
prison, he was discharged. This was the case at 
every place he found work to do, and at times 
he was tempted to fall into his old sins again. 
However, he was wonderfully ke^t in the times 
of temptation and trial. Once they had nothing 
to eat for a whole day. A little rice that was 
left was made into soup for the child. This was 
indeed a sore trial; and, as he saw no way out 
of the trouble, he decided to take his life that 
night after his wife and child had gone to sleep. 
He wrote a note asking a friend to see after his 
wife and child, etc. Late that night a Christian 



Miracles in Japan. 65 

friend came and prayed with him and talked to 
him about resisting temptation and gaining the 
victory in times of trial. He also gave him a 
little money. He went out immediately and 
bought some rice, woke up his wife and child 
and had supper. The words of John 14:18, "I 
will not leave you orphans" (Japanese transla- 
tion), were a special help to him. He took cour- 
age and felt that God would surely help if he 
did his best to find something to do. That day 
he found work for half of the day. This, with 
money he got from the sale of a book, enabled 
him to get rice to last for several days. By the 
help of the pastor, he got a job cutting wood 
and he and his wife hauled it around and sold 
it to the Christians. He afterwards worked for 
Mr. Homma, who has a home for and gives 
work to ex-prisoners. Mr. Homma trusted him, 
and after ten days gave him a responsible posi- 
tion, in which he had charge of other laborers. 

He says : "He trusted me even with the keys 
of his store-house. This kind treatment so 
touched 'me that I thanked God with tears that 
anyone should treat me so kindly after having 
been such a wicked man." 

Mr. Homma's consecrated life was a great 
help to him. He used often to read the Bible 
and pray with him. Although a man of high 
standing himself, he would spend part of his 



66 Miracles in Japan. 

time engraving marble with the ex-prisoners. 
This taught Aikawa San the important lesson 
that it is no disgrace for people of any rank to 
work with their hands, and it also gave him a 
desire to have some business of his own. He 
now has a work of the same kind himself and 
is caring for twenty ex-prisoners. He says : 
"When I think of the words of Jesus, 'I came 
to call sinners to repentance/ I feel as if I am 
leaning on His breast. The men sometimes 
come home drunk and kick me, but God gives me 
grace and patience to quiet them and exhort 
them to repentance. My wife works hard with 
me every day and helps polish the marble. The 
principal of a normal school called some time 
ago to investigate the work, and, seeing my wife 
at work said: 'I should think you would stop 
working now and take it easy.' But she replied : 
'No; it is a good work and I don't dread it or 
think it hard at all. It is all through God's 
blessing that we are so happy now.' As I stood 
by and overheard this, I could not keep back 
the tears of joy as I thought of the past and 
then of the present. Those who are forgiven 
much must also rejoice much. I think I am the 
happiest person in all Japan." 

(The Life of Aikawa San will soon be pub- 
lished by himself in both Japanese and English.) 



KATSURA SAN'S TESTIMONY. 



"As I write out my testimony, I recall with 
shame what a good-for-nothing wretch I have 
been with all my worthlessness and sin. I was 
brought up without any want, by kind parents, 
but, alas ! very early I began a life of sin, and 
in early manhood I gave myself up to lust and 
fornication, although I made excuses to myself 
that drinking and sin was a good experience for 
a young man. I gradually sank lower and lower, 
in spite of my parents' and brother's warning 
and advice. I had not the least inclination to 
repent. I deceived my parents and caused end- 
less anxiety to the family, thinking this awful 
life the most natural thing for a young man. It 
soon became impossible for me to stay at home 
any longer, so I ran away. Having got away 
from my parents' constraint, I was just led by 
the devil. I drank, gambled, committed every 
conceivable sin, associating with the vilest of com- 
panions, and was delighted at being able to sin so 
easily. My parents and whole family had given 
me up as hopeless, such was the awfulness of my 
condition. But the Lord had compassion on me 

67 



68 Miracles in Japan. 

and brought me one dav to the Kobe Mission 
Hall 

"It was on the night of the 26. of December, 
1905. What a night that was for me ! I was on 
my way to the Fukuwara (the prostitute quar- 
ter), led by the devil, as was my habit. Sudden- 
ly, as I was walking along Tamondori, I heard 
singing. I came to the door of the Mission Hall, 
and, attracted by the tune, I went in to listen. The 
hymn that was being sung was No. 21 in Gospel 
Songs. I listened to verse after verse, quite 
charmed with the tune, but when it came to the 
verse which runs thus : 

'Who is the sinning one, on whom 

The awful day of wrath and doom 

Is all but falling even NOW ? 

'Tis thou, poor soul, 'tis thou, 'tis THOU f 

oh! how I trembled .and felt as though my heart 
were just pierced through. I saw all my sins 
rise up before me like a vision- There as I sat 
and listened to the sermon, my head hung down 
instinctively, for it seemed to me as though the 
preacher was aiming every word direct at me. 
W r holly convinced, my heart cried out, 'Thou art 
the sinner.' 

"As I raised my head to glance round, I saw 
on the wall almost at my side, written in large 
characters, the words, 'Come unto Me, all ye that 



Miracles in Japan. 69 

are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.' In a 
moment the thought came to my heart, 'Why are 
you not one? Are you not weary and heavy- 
laden? Yea, surely it means me; I am the very 
one.' There and then God opened the eyes of 
my heart and there and then I heard the words 
of God. He gave me new life, new power from 
himself that very night. I gave up all my bad 
friends, for after God had saved me, I came to 
feel quite afraid of their company, as I thought 
of all the sin I had committed with them ; but I 
have always with me the Best Friend — even 
Jesus — from whom I have received eternal life 
and everlasting joy. He has cleansed me from all 
sin. My life is full of pure happiness. I at once 
came to loathe the drink and tobacco which I had 
loved so much before. I was wholly converted. 
I had, of course, made up my mind to turn over 
a new leaf before this, either through the advice 
of friends or else through my own convictions; 
but it never came to anything. Hence even to 
myself it now seemed so strange that I could be 
suddenly changed and delivered from such an 
awful life of sin, just through another man's ser- 
mon and the verse of a hymn. But now I under- 
stand that it was not man ; it was not my decision, 
but it was GOD that worked in me. Yes, I am 
saved, Hallelujah ! I used to think that the only 
pleasure in life was to satisfy my fleshly lust, but 



70 Miracles in Japan. 

now my only joy is to read the Word, and hear 
the voice of God as He tells of His love to me. 
My life is full of thanksgiving and joy, and all 
this by the grace of God." 

— Japan Evangelistic Band Quarterly. 







"The Blind Girl" 



A BUND GIRL'S EXPERIENCE. 



On the night of October 16, 1904, a blind 
girl, about seventeen years of age, sad and for- 
lorn, entered the Mission and listened attentively 
to the Gospel story. She had attended church 
some before, but it was here she first prayed 
and gave her heart to God. The rays of the Gos- 
pel light had found its way into this darkened 
heart and life, making a marvelous change, and 
from that day hope and joy seemed to fill her 
soul. After this she alway came to our mission 
with a smile on her face, and never failed to tes- 
tify to what God had done for her when an op- 
portunity was given. 

As T — San's home was one of sin and wick- 
edness, she never knew what it was to be loved. 
When but a few months old, she became blind 
through illness, and her father, after a quarrel 
with her grandmother, left home. About three 
years later, her mother also left home and led an 
immoral life. This left her with an aunt and 
grandmother. The aunt had been married, but 
separated from her husband and had been living 
with two other men. T — San's grandmother 



74 Miraci^s in Japan. 

had also led an extremely wicked life, having 
spent ten years in prison for committing a horri- 
ble crime. However, she only served seven years 
of her sentence, as she was released, with many 
other prisoners, on the occasion of the marriage 
of the Crown Prince in 1900. 

T — San had to live with and support this 
grandmother, who treated her very unkindly in 
every way she could, and often had scarcely 
enough food to live on. Being blind and unedu- 
cated, the girl's only means of support was ad- 
ministering a sort of massage or shampoo. This 
she learned when but a child, and worked at it 
very hard, regardless of the disagreeable weather 
at times. As her work was mostly done at night, 
she was greatly exposed to danger, temptation 
and ill health, having no protection of any kind, 
nor ever receiving a pleasant word from anyone 
to cheer her darkened life. Besides all these dis- 
advantages, there was the blackness of the lives 
of those in her home. Cruelty, harshness, licen- 
tiousness, theft, and sin of every kind was all 
that was known in her home. It was continual 
scolding, grumbling and cruelty. Even after her 
conversion, it was difficult for her to< always be 
kind and gentle to her home folk, as she suf- 
fered much persecution, her grandmother at 
times beating and even threatening to kill her if 
she did not give up her faith in Christ. It is 



Miracles in Japan. 75 

almost impossible to put into words the suffering" 
and temptation she was brought to face ; but 
"God's grace is sufficient," and T — San certain- 
ly proved this to be true. 

One night she came to the Mission, looking 
very pale, but happy. On being asked in regard 
to herself, she replied : "I am very well and hap- 
py, thank you, but my head aches quite badly. 
However, it is better than it was." She then 
showed us where her grandmother had struck her 
on the head with iron fire-sticks, several days 
before. 

In December, 1905, she gave the following 
testimony: "Before God saved me, I was cross 
and fretful, but now it is not so. I have just 
been sick for two weeks, but all the time I was 
happy and rejoicing. I thought I might die, and 
how grand it would have been to go and be with 
Jesus, but I wanted to come to the Mission 
and testify once more, so I prayed for God to 
heal me." 

Some time ago she said in her testimony: 
"Since being saved, I am so changed and happy 
that even my dreams are different. The other 
night I thought I was here at the Mission, sing- 
ing, shouting, and praising God with all my 
might. The next thing I knew I was awakened 
by my grandmother, shaking and scolding me 



76 Miracles in Japan. 

for singing my Jesus-songs in bed. Anyway, 1 
was happy." 

In the spring of 1906, she was ill much of the 
time and became very pale and weak. Poor food 
was no doubt one cause of this and we longed to 
help her, but saw no way, as food given her to 
eat was eaten by others. We prayed especially 
about it, as we felt strongly that she would 
not be long in this world unless some change 
took place soon. God answered our prayers and 
a kind missionary promised to take her support 
and also that 'of her grandmother, if we could 
get her a place where she could have good food 
and proper care. This was arranged, and her 
health began to improve immediately. She at- 
tended the blind school here and learned to read 
the Bible. In the summer following, we had her 
eyes examined and learned that an operation 
would likely give quite good sight. Praying over 
the matter, she decided to go to the Akasaka Hos- 
pital in Tokyo (a Christian institution), where 
they had kindly offered to take her. After the 
operation she recovered her sight so as to be able 
to read large print. This was to her like a new 
world, being able to see her fellow-men and the 
beauties of nature. Her face became much more 
intelligent and thoughtful. When asked what 
among everything impressed her most, she an- 
swered : "The great difference in people's faces. 



Miracles in Japan. 77 

Some have such hard, ugly and fearful faces that 
they make me think of Satan, and others have 
such good, peaceful faces. The faces of Chris- 
tians are quite different from others." 

We hoped the effect of this change would be 
a blessing to her spiritually, and in some ways it 
was, as she realized that all these blessings were 
from God ; but the things of the world were nat- 
urally more impressed upon her mind and she had 
new temptations to meet that she never had be- 
fore. For this and other reasons, her spiritual 
life became and remained for some little time 
quite cold and indifferent. However, she loved 
to study all day long, and would often read her 
raised-letter Bible while in bed at night when 
all others were asleep, in order to gain more 
learning, rather than to receive spiritual help. 

A few weeks ago she went through a severe 
trial, as she found that all her possessions in the 
way of clothes had been stolen and pawned by 
her aunt, and, having no monev to regain them, 
she was greatly vexed and became very angry. 
However, she soon after came to our place look- 
ing very cheerful, and said : "I had a very good 
dream last night and saw Jesus. He spoke to 
me and told me not to be so anxious about clothes 
and such things, as they are only temporal and 
of not so much importance, after all; that I 
should think more of spiritual things, which are 



;8 Mirages in Japan. 

eternal and of far greater importance." We 
thought, when she told us this, of what Jesus said, 
'"Take no thought for the morrow." 

Her grandmother is now greatly changed and 
treats her more kindly, and has rented her house 
to us for Sabbath-school once a week. 



JusJi 




I if 












V 




tfl w 









Miyakoda San. 



MIYAKODA SAN. 



"God saved me from an awful life of sin and 
I wish to glorify Him by giving my experience. 
More than twenty years ago there lived in our 
village a man who was very zealous for his relig- 
ion. He often tried to convince me that every 
one should have a religion to trust in for help. I 
listened to his exhortations, but they had no ef- 
fect on me. Soon I was influenced by bad boys 
and began to drink and do bad. I did not realize 
my condition at the time, but was on the broad 
road to hell. At the age of twenty I began my 
life of dissipation. Parents, brothers, and friends 
reproved and tried to restrain me, but it did no 
good. Three years later I ran off with a man's 
daughter and made great trouble among my rel- 
atives. Instead of being sorry, I was proud. 

In the next village lived an uncle who was a 
wealthy saloon-keeper. He offered to relieve my 
parents by taking care of me, as I was such a bad 
case and hard to manage. I must never forget 
his kindness for wishing to help me; but, as 1 
look back now, the very thought of having gone 
there makes me shudder. My uncle was in the 

81 



82 Miracles in Japan. 

wholesale liquor business and sent liquor to the 
island of Oki. In this business I helped him for 
four or five years. I traveled back and forth to 
and from this island. Oki is a very notorious 
place because of sin and wickedness. I think it 
must be the worst place in the whole of Japan, 
and perhaps in the world. Instead of calling it a 
place inhabited by human beings, one might well 
say it is inhabited by devils. My business, of 
course, was bad, and this, with the influence of 
my surroundings, made me go from bad to worse. 
I squandered all the money which belonged to 
my uncle in dissipation that I received in the 
business. 

"I lived more than a year at the village of 
Sakai, where my bad life became well known. My 
condition became distressing to me. I endured 
much pain and suffering from disease, which was 
the result of my immoral life. It was not only a 
trouble to myself, but to my parents, wife and 
children. 

''Nine years ago I began to think over my past 
and to consider my present condition. Then, for 
the first time, I realized the awfulness of my sin- 
ful ways and was reminded of the man who ex- 
horted me, while yet young, to be religious. Feel- 
ing my need on this line, I began to go to the 
Buddhist temple that was just across the way 
from our house. My parents being Buddhists^ I 



Miracles in Japan. 83 

became intimate with them and they taught me 
their religion. At that time there was a young 
men's association formed in this sect and I was 
very zealous in helping it along. However, my 
private life was unchanged. I was powerless to 
help myself as before. Everyone seemed to have 
deserted me. I knew of no one in the world who 
could help me in my distress and misery and 
save me from my awful sins. I then realized 
there was a great difference in the real condition 
of people's hearts to what they appear to be. 
Many I felt were burdened down with sin as my- 
self, but generally are satisfied to remain in that 
condition. 

"About this tkne a stir was made at the tem- 
ple, the priests doing things not only unfit for 
religious people, but very inhuman. I deter- 
mined to never have anything to do with them 
again. I thought that, even if the Buddhist re- 
ligion is good, if the priests are corrupt, it is pow- 
erless to help me. 

"In October of the same year I accompanied 
my friend one day to a neighboring village. My 
friend left me in front of a Gospel preaching- 
place. It was Sunday night and the gate was 
closed, but I heard singing inside. I stood and 
listened and know now it was God's leading for 
me. It was God's pity and mercy for me, who 
had for some time been longing and crying for 



84 Miracle in Japan. 

help. Even while running in the paths of sin 
and unrighteousness, God did not forget me, but 
sought after me and led me in a marvelous way. 
It was God's providence. I could not under- 
stand everything I heard that night, but this por- 
tion of God's word remained with me: "Come 
unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give vou rest.' I was indeed tired and 
heavy laden, and when I heard these words they 
lodged deep in my heart. The preacher said that 
no one on earth could forgive sins and take away 
its burden but Jesus. This was the voice of the 
true and living God calling me. When I think 
of it now I can but praise Him, and do so daily. 
I went again the next Sunday, but for awhile 
was ashamed to go in. That day I heard it was 
God's object to change our hearts, and that with- 
out such a change it was impossible to walk in 
the way of righteousness, and that He can surely 
do this, etc. It was just what I wanted. I went 
every day to have the preacher teach me. I be- 
lieved that life and salvation was in Jesus only. 
Soon a Bible class was opened in our village. 
I thought I was changed, but was not really 
saved, for I could not give up all my tobacco and 
drink. A month after the Sunday I first heard 
the Gospel, a brother came from Matsue to 
preach. I received a letter inviting me to attend 
the meeting. When this came, I was drunk, but, 






MiraclKS in Japan. 85 

trying my best to conceal it, I went to the meeting 
anyway. Here I heard in detail about Jesus dy- 
ing upon the cross in our stead to set us free. I 
could not believe He had forgiven me. For some 
time I had said I believed, but, as it was not from 
the heart, I had no evidence of salvation. I was 
timid and despised myself. Being taught about 
the awfulness of sin and its remedy in Christ, I 
was at last able to claim the promises for myself. 
I believed God had forgiven all my sins and 
given me a new heart. Now for the first time I 
could really pray and thank God. He put His 
new life in me and I could commune with Him. 
Hallelujah! Amen! 

"On that memorable day I was really saved, 
and from that time have had no desire to drink or 
smoke. It has now been ten years that I have 
been following and praising God. Gal. 2 120 im- 
pressed me very much. Jesus Christ kept and 
filled me with His Spirit, so I could boldW testify 
for Him in our village. When going to the fields 
to work or going to the seashore to fish I was 
kept in God's blessing and love and accomplished 
the w r ork easily. The people of my village were 
given to dishonesty and evil practices because of 
their covetousness, but God kept me from such 
things. I had received the gift of eternal life, 
which is of more value than the whole world, 
5- 



86 Miracles in Japan. 

and so peace, righteousness and pure joy filled 
my heart. 

"From the first I was convicted about keeping 
the Sabbath. This was a difficult problem J as 
there were more than ten in the home, but only 
my brother and myself were able to work, and so 
I was not allowed to rest one day. However, 
they were at last convinced that, by keeping 
sober, I did more in six days days than I used to 
do in seven, so I was allowed the privilege of 
keeping the Sabbath. One night at supper my 
wife said: 4 It is a marvelous thing for such a 
drunkard as my husband to become sober like 
this/ 

"After being thus saved I became strong 
again and worked hard on the farm together 
with my brother. I always looked forward to 
Sunday with a glad heart, as I rested from my 
work and went to church to learn more about 
God. My wife had not yet become a Christian 
and I prayed much for her every day. After a 
year she was also saved and took a bold stand 
for Christ. We then walked together in the way 
and consecrated ourselves to God to tell to others 
who were in sin, as I once was, the news of sal- 
vation. God heard our prayer, and in 190 1 He 
permitted even such unworthy creatures as we to 
work for Him. After working and testifying 
for Jesus six months, He opened the way to go 



Miracles in Japan. 87 

to Tokyo to the Bible School. I remained in 
school two years, and in 1904 I worked with a 
missionary in evangelistic work in and about 
Tokyo. Then I was providentially brought to 
work here in Chiba Province, with kind mission- 
aries (Misses Glenn). 

"Now, being encouraged and inspired by the 
prayers of my brethren and sisters, I am righting 
daily with an eye single to God's glory (Phil. 
4:13). I am a living testimony that God is able 
to save and make sober a miserable, sinful drunk- 
ard, through faith in Jesus Christ. 

"TOMOTARO MlYAKODA." 



CONVERTED THROUGH A TRACT. 




Matsusaburo Fujisawa, of Iida village, was 
born at Shingo, Yamagata Ken. He learned to 
drink when but twelve years of age and became 
a slave to this curse as well as to other dissipa- 
tion. His father put him in school, -but his mind 
was absorbed with other things, and so he learned 
very little while in school. His habit of daily 
drinking and other bad conduct, of course, soon 
left him without any money. He then procured 
means by deception — sending telegrams to his 
parents pretending to be dangerously ill, etc., etc. 
When this was discovered, everyone lost confi- 
dence in him and refused to help him any more. 
This left him in worse straits than ever. 

About this time a missionary handed him a 
tract, through which he got a little light concern- 
ing the true God, but yet did not understand fully 
Christ's love and His mission on earth. Deciding 
to do better, he again gained the confidence of 
his parents. He became a country policeman and 
was very proud. The village people looked up to 
him with respect and reverence, as is the custom 
in country places. He laid by a little money by 




Mr. and Mrs. Takeda. 

Japanese Evangelist and Wife 



Miracles in Japan. 91 

receiving bribes and again started drinking and 
going into vice, and consequently he was dis- 
charged from his position. 

Now, as usual, when he got into trouble, he 
tried to reform. He went to Yamagata and ped- 
dled miso (a kind of bean sauce). By doing 
this, he succeeded in saving up about twenty-five 
yen ($12.50), and, again failing in his own 
strength to resist temptation, he fell back into his 
old sins and spent all his money in four days. He 
even pawned his clothes and other belongings for 
a little more money to spend in vice and sin. He 
then opened a branch shop for a man, T — San, 
a dealer in soy. For some time he prospered in 
this business, making big wages ; but lower and. 
lower he went into sin. After two years in this 
business, he was compelled to sell out because of 
debt. 

Going then to Iida village, he began the man- 
ufacture of notta (a sort of bean food), in which 
business he still continues. 

On March 26, 1906, while on a drunken spree 
with six of his friends, he suddenly heard peo- 
ple shouting "Fire ! Fire !" and, looking around, 
he found his own home in flames. He says: 
"From that time I thought seriously of my past 
life, longed for relief from my burden of sin, and 
was in great distress. When at a friend's house 
one day, I noticed a part of a tract that had been 



92 Miracles in Japan. 

pasted on a byobu (folding screen). On this 
tract was a portion of God's Word, by which I 
learned that 'God is love/ that He loves the 
whole world, and that we should all believe in 
Jesus Christ, etc." This, as he testifies, brought 
real conviction as well as a sense of relief in find- 
ing there was some hope for him. From this 
time, he was blindly seeking the way of salvation, 
with a deep longing to become God's child and be 
saved from his life of sin. 

In February a preacher from Tateoka, Osawa 
San, was distributing tracts from house to house 
and came upon this Fujisawa San, who was in- 
deed glad to find someone who could explain 
the way of salvation more clearly to him. He 
was really saved — not only from his past sins, 
but was delivered from the awful appetite for 
strong drink, etc. He says : "Now I am living 
happy in God's love and grace and am passing 
my days in peace and joy." 

Desiring to spread the news of this glad sal- 
vation, this brother, has opened up his house for 
meetings and has a Gospel worker come and 
preach to his neighbors. 



A MARVELOUS TESTIMONY— TWENTY 
THREE YEARS IN PRISON. 



Yoshitaro Koji's Wonderful Story. 

"I was born on the peninsula of Kazusa near 
Tokyo, about forty years ago. My forefathers 
were of the Samurai class, but from diverse 
causes my grandfather became a fisherman. My 
father followed the same business and became 
very rich and employed sevetal hundred fisher- 
men. There were four children, two older broth- 
ers, one older sister, and myself, who were well 
brought up in- my father's home. One especially 
long season of bad weather came, and they could 
get no fish, so my father lost most of his wealth. 
At this time I was only six years old, and my 
father thought the family must all separate, so 
my mother and I were left to live alone in a small 
store-room; but in less than a year my mother 
died and I was left alone, not knowing where my 
father, brothers or sister had gone. I was then 
taken by some man to whom my father was a 
debtor, and became a slave to him. I had to work 
very hard, on farm and sea, and my usual bed- 
time was about twelve o'clock. I felt I was the 



94 Miraci^s in Japan. 

most unfortunate person in this world, and was 
so lonesome, especially when I would see my 
father's old home and property; and one time 
was about to drown myself. When I asked to be 
released, my owner would not let me go, so one 
time I tried to run away, but was arrested and 
brought back again, only to be treated more 
cruelly. However, when I was eleven years old, 
my master freed me and I went to Tokyo. After 
searching for quite a long time with much diffi- 
culty, I found my father. Words cannot express 
how happy I was. He had a junk to carry lug- 
gage from Yokohama to Tokyo, and on this I 
helped for two years. When fourteen years old, 
I found my sister and became her adopted son. 

"Now I found a good position in a factory, 
and my master loved and trusted me, so I could 
get money very easily; but I soon met with bad 
companions, and was taken to a bad place, where 
I learned to spend my wages that I had saved, 
and finally took some of my master's money. 
When he found this out, he dismissed me, so I 
lost my position. After losing my position, I 
served in a disreputable house, and on one occa- 
sion quarreled with the mistress, and, to keep her 
from making a noise, grasped her by the throat, 
choking her to death. I tried in manv ways to 
bring her to life, but did not succeed. What to do 
I did not know, and I heard a voice — it must have 



Miracms in Japan. 95 

been the devil's — saying: "This is just as bad as 
though you had killed hundreds of people, and 
you will be hanged, so you had better just cover it 
up and do just as you like and do all the wicked 
things you want to.' From that time I decided to 
become the champion of the wicked people of this 
world, and took all of the mistress' money. After 
doing this, I got a five-gallon can of oil, that had 
just been purchased, and some kindling, and put 
it on her, pouring the oil all around, and set fire 
to it. I thought when everything was burned 
there would be nothing but ashes, and the people 
could not find her ; but when the fire had reached 
the ceiling, and I called for help, many people 
came and put the fire out. I was greatly aston- 
ished to find that the woman's body, instead of 
burning to ashes, as I had supposed, was only 
blackened. The chief of police came, and, though 
I tried to deceive them concerning the fire, they 
discovered something was wrong, and I was put 
in jail. Here I met worse people and learned 
how to commit worse sins than ever before. My 
father and adopted mother visited me and tried 
to tell me about good things, but I would not 
listen. 

"On one occasion when my adopted mother 
visited me, she said: "No one is to blame for 
you being here but us, because we did not take 
care of you when you were little, and you were 



96 Miracles in Japan. 

just left to yourself ; but I will give you this book 
as a memento, and if you will live and read it, you 
will be saved. Though you are uneducated and 
cannot read it, I will ask God to make you able 
to read it, and, if you obey the officers of the jail, 
perhaps some time you will be pardoned ;but my 
only request is that you will read this book.' Then 
we separated. My mother's love and tears touched 
me, and my heart was greatly moved. 

"The book my mother gave me was a Bible, 
and I will now tell you how it came into her pos- 
session. Since I have come out of jail, my -moth- 
er told me all about it. She tried many attorneys, 
who came to her, saying they could get me out, 
and spent much money on me until she had lost 
three brick houses that she owned. She would 
also go to the Buddhist and Shinto temples to 
pray, but never did any answer come. One night, 
after trying so hard, but all in vain, for my re- 
lease, this faithful mother was walking past the 
Shiba Presbyterian Church, and unconsciously 
she went in and listened to the sermon. The words 
she heard the minister say were: 'Jesus Christ 
died to save sinners, and, if any man will believe 
on Him, he will be saved.' After the sermon, my 
mother spoke to the preacher about her wayward 
adopted son, and the minister's heart was greatly 
touched, and he gave his Bible to her, saying: 
'If he will read this, he will be converted, and 



Miraci^s in Japan. 97 

will be saved.' This minister was Mr. Ogawa. 
Through him my mother and father, who was 
now editor of a newspaper, became earnest 
Christians. 

"After receiving the Bible, I was interested and 
would ask the other prisoners to read it for me, 
but, not understanding it, I threw it away and 
kept learning worse things all the time. Soon 
after, a man who had killed someone else was 
brought to the prison, and was about the worst 
person I had ever met. He soon was proposing 
to the rest of the prisoners to kill the jailers and 
then run away, and I was the first man to join 
him. The plans were all made, but on the very 
night we were to commit this murder, I was 
moved downstairs, so could not join him. But in 
the night I heard someone crying out and a great 
disturbance up stairs. This man and his com- 
panions were carrying out their awful plans, but 
instead of escaping, the jailers were too strong 
for them, and all these conspirators were killed, 
and I alone was saved. Now I can see it was 
only providential that I was moved downstairs, 
and thus saved. 

"Finally the day for my public trial came, but 
on the way to the court-room I grabbed the po- 
liceman's sword from him and ran away. When 
they tried to catch me, I would frighten them 
away with this sword, and kept on running. I 



98 Miracles in Japan. 

was escaping all right and was getting farther 
and farther away, when suddenly I turned down 
another street and ran into a company of soldiers, 
to whom the policeman shouted that I was escap- 
ing and for them to catch me. On any attempt 
of mine to get away then I was likely to be shot, 
so was again arrested and taken back to jail. 
Again the time for my trial came and I was sen- 
tenced to imprisonment for life, because I was 
only seventeen years of age. Had I been older, I 
should have been hanged. I was glad I did not 
have to die, because then I could go on and do still 
more wickedness than I did before. To do evil 
seemed the best enjoyment I could possibly have. 
"From Tokyo penitentiary I was moved to 
Sendai penitentiary, where I did my work very 
faithfully and won the confidence of the officer 
under whose charge I was. Because I worked 
faithfully, they trusted me and thought I would 
never run away, but I did. Of course they fol- 
lowed me, shooting at me and trying to wound 
me with lances, but, miraculously, I was not 
wounded. They failed to capture me, and I 
would hide in fields and often went without any- 
thing to eat. As soon as I could, I stole clothing 
and changed my prisoner's garb for that of a 
good citizen, and came to Utsunomiya. Here I 
became a servant in a restaurant. From here I 
went to Tokyo, but felt I was not safe because of 



Miracles in Japan. 99 

being imprisoned here before,so went on to Yoko- 
hama. All this time, however, I had no peace and 
spent many sleepless nights. 

"Feeling that Yokohama was not safe, I 
thought I would steal some money and go to some 
foreign country, perhaps America; so, finding a 
rich man's home, I broke in one night, but the 
man of the house awakened and shouted out and 
aroused the neighbors, and, as I ran, they ran 
after me. I ran down a little alley and finding 
a house open, ran in. The people followed me 
with guns and swords, but I had only a stick to 
fight against them. What was my surprise to find 
I had run into the home of the chief of police! 
Of course I was again arrested. Although I 
tried to hide my past, that I was escaped from a 
penitentiary, there was one policeman who had 
been jailer where I had been imprisoned, and 
knew me very well, so I could not deceive them. 
To my life sentence was added nine years more, 
on account of the liability of my being released 
when a new emperor took the throne or a special 
day when prisoners are released ; so there was no 
hope now of my ever being released. The first 
four years I was in the prison this time, I was 
considered such a dangerous prisoner that they 
tied heavy iron balls to my feet to keep me from 
running away again. 

"I was put in the Xokyo penitentiary for 



ioo Miracles in Japan. 

awhile, but was moved to Hokkaido penitentiary, 
where I grew worse and worse, becoming the 
leader of all the worst ones there. I was only 
twenty-one years of age, and the penitentiaries 
then afforded great opportunities for developing 
everything evil there was in my nature. We could 
gamble, smoke, chew, and lived just like wild 
animals who had to be caged. The penitentiaries 
now are much improved. Being the leader of the 
prisoners, if anyone desired to escape, I supplied 
them with whatever I could that would help them. 
I walked in the way of wickedness, even the alley 
of it, and was not afraid of anyone, and felt that 
all people were like worms. Not even in my 
dreams did I ever repent. This condition of 
affairs in the penitentiary did not last long, for a 
new warden, Mr. Arima, came and regulated 
things so that the prisoners were treated much 
better. He arranged one very small cell, where 
the worst prisoners would be kept if they misbe- 
haved; but, though. I was one of the worst, he 
came to me and kindly exhorted me to give up 
the bad life, and said I was young enough that I 
could become a good man if I wanted to. Though 
my heart was hard as stone, this kindness touched 
me and I was very sorry and cried. He told me 
he would give me charge over some work con- 
nected with the water-works system, and I con- 
centrated all my strength to this work and in- 



Miracles in Japan. ioi 

tended to repent of my evil ways through his 
kindness. 

"One night I had a dream. In this dream a 
nice-looking young boy came to me, holding out 
a book to me, saying: 'Take this book and read 
it. It will do you good, and it is good for the 
people of Japan. In it is written life eternal. 
Take it and eat it.' I took it and looked at it, and 
I thought, 'I know that book, I seem to remem- 
ber it.' But while I was looking at it one of the 
men awakened me, and I could not finish my 
dream. I could not sleep any longer, and thoughts 
of my past life came up to me so fast. My friends, 
parents, brothers and sisters and my own bad life 
kept coming up before me so that sleeping was 
no longer possible. I recognized that the book I 
had seen in my dream was the very same that 
my mother had given me four years before, and 
I felt it was God's commandment, and was satis- 
fied and went to sleep again. The second time 
the boy came to me, saying as before : 'Read this 
book and you will have eternal life.' 

"After, this dream I bought a Holy Bible, but 
could not read even the Japanese alphabet, so 
could not read the book, and asked my fellow- 
prisoners to read it for me, but they only laughed 
and told me if I read it, I would become a good 
sleight-of-hand performer and could steal money 
or anything. This is a Japanese idea of Chris- 



102 Miracles in Japan. 

tianity, and these people told me I was studying 
magic to study the Bible. Finally a Buddhist 
priest came, and I asked him to read to me, but he 
replied : 'You will become the champion of Ishika- 
wa Goemon [a noted robber of ancient Japanese 
history]. If you want to read something, get 
another book.' I could only look at it, and was 
almost discouraged and tempted to give it up, but 
this did not make me happy. Soon I heard that 
the wife of one of the officers was a Christian, 
and I asked to be told about Christianity. They 
were only too glad to tell me, and advised me to 
study the alphabet so that I might read it for my- 
self. After studing very hard, I was able to read 
the Bible a little and was much pleased with 
God's Word. The change in my life was very 
evident, for I stopped smoking, chewing, drink- 
ing wine, and all those nasty things ; but my old 
friends, the prisoners, made much fun of me, 
and at one time about one hundred people gath- 
ered about me and were going to kill me, but 
God gave me patience. 

"I now had a hope of eternity, and though 
they did persecute me, I believed that the God 
who had given me such a hope would protect 
me, so I went on from day to day. However, I 
did not dare to read my Bible publicly for fear 
they would take it away from me, but would tear 
out a leaf, and when I had a chance, would read 






Miracles in Japan. 103 

it and read it until I had memorized it. In the 
evening there was a tiny ray of light which would 
steal into my dark cell, and there I held up the 
precious Book and read and re-read it until I 
memorized it. Often I would hide away for 
hours to study the Word. 

"Though I was persecuted very much, I began 
to testify to being saved, and some of my fellow- 
prisoners became Christians; but some of the 
weaker ones would backslide manv times on ac- 
count of the persecution, so we decided to ask the 
warden if he would not give us Christians a sep- 
arate room where we would be free, as the oth- 
ers had tried to kill us. He consented to build a 
room for us, but when these other men heard 
about it, they decided to kill us, and one time, 
while praying, several men came and took hoid 
of me. I fought with them, driving them away 
with what I had in my hand, and, when I looked, 
it was my Bible. Immediately I was convicted, 
and the passage of Scripture that says for me to 
love my enemies came to me, and I kneeled down 
right there and with tears asked the Lord to for- 
give them. When I felt the Lord had answered 
my prayer, I opened my eyes, and not one of my 
enemies was to be seen, but, oh ! I felt a new love 
in my heart, and praised God that love had been 
perfected in my heart. From this time, this new 
love for everybody and for God increased. No 

6— 



104 Miracles in Japan. 

enemy resists perfect love; faith is the victory. 
"After this second change came, the Lord 
gave me many souls. Then the warden gave us 
a room for us Christians to worship in, and it; 
a very short time about two hundred souls were 
added unto us. The name of God was greatly 
glorified among us and we continued to, testify 
boldly. About this time a Christian chaplain was 
sent to us, Mr. Tomeoka, who soon had four 
hundred of the prisoners reading the Bible. We 
had blessed times those days, but later we were 
deprived of having him with us, as the Buddhists 
influenced the Government not to allow any 
Christian chaplain to go into the penitentiaries of 
Japan. Mr. Tomeoka then had to leave, but went 
on a tour through America and Europe, seeing 
how he might improve the Japanese penitentia- 
ries. He told us not to depend on flesh, but en- 
tirely on God. When Mr. Tomeoka left us, a 
Buddhist chaplain was allowed to come in, and 
soon we found many of the converts giving up 
their Bibles. This made me feel very badly, and 
one time when the prisoners, wardens and other 
officers were gathered together, I publicly spoke 
to them of the change that had come to the pris- 
oners' hearts since the Buddhist chaplain had been 
allowed to come in. I told them it was very bad 
for them to be so changeable. We, however, 
were more than ever persecuted, and many of the 






Miracles in Japan. 105 

Christians left us ; but I determined more than 
ever to depend on God aone. 

"I felt my spiritual life was growing low, and 
that my body was getting so worn out, and one 
day, while working in a blacksmith shop in the 
summer, it being very hot, I fell down, and had 
a most wonderful dream. 

The Vision. 

"I saw a great field and in the field was a sea. 
Soon a great black cloud hung over it all and out 
of the cloud came a beast with horns. It ran 
after me and fire and smoke came out of its 
mouth. I tried to run away from it, but my dress 
caught on its horns, and I had to throw it away 
that I might go free, and so naked I ran on and 
on, my body becoming much bruised. The beast 
had tried to eat me, but a lamb came between us 
and the beast killed the lamb and ate it. After 
seeing many strange things which I have never 
seen in this world, a great mountain like a ham- 
mer came out of the sky and was going to ham- 
mer me to death, but I ran on and came to the 
sea and swam to a big rock which was in the 
water. While on the rock, a flood came and cov- 
ered the rock, and when I looked into the water, 
lo, there were many sea-serpents trying to get 
me ! The sun had gone down and everything was 
so dark, and I cried out to heaven for help. Look- 



106 Miracms in Japan. 

ing up, I saw a rope of light coming down out of 
heaven to me, and I grasped it with all my 
strength and climbed up until I looked up and 
there was a great rock above me like a roof. I 
was so tired, but what was I to do but hold on 
to this rope of life? for the many serpents were 
down under me holding their mouths wide open, 
waiting to get me. This is a great secret of Chris- 
tian life. I was depending on my own strength 
for help, but it soon failed, and then I cried out 
to my heavenly Father for help. Soon the lovely 
boy whom I had seen in my first vision came to 
me and said: 'Son of man, come.' And imme- 
diately he took me and lifted me up on the rock. 
"The boy led me on and we came to a beau- 
tiful garden where were the most beautiful flow- 
ers, trees and animals, who were singing praises 
unto God. I had never seen anything like it in 
this world. We finally came to a bright and shin- 
ing temple, and I was trembling, but we went up 
to it. There was no sun to give light, but every- 
thing was shining. We went in, and here the 
beautiful boy left me, saying: 'You, stay here; I 
will come again for you.' And, parting the cur- 
tains, he went out. The air seemed full of flying 
creatures, who were talking and singing, but I 
could not understand. After awhile, I looked 
away on in the distance and saw two large feet, 
shining like diamonds, but could see no more, for 






Miracles in Japan. 107 

the rest of the body was covered with a cloud. 
Around these feet were many creatures, wor- 
shiping and praising God. A little girl came to 
me with two different kinds of fruit, saying: 
'Take these and eat and you will have life eternal, 
and healing.' Thanking her, I took them and 
ate. Suddenly I awakened and found I was in 
the sick ward of the penitentiary, surrounded by 
the warden, doctors and nurses. I asked them 
what I had been doing, and they told me that for 
three days and nights I had been unconscious 
and they did not know what my sickness was. 

Seeking Sanctification. 
"On recovering from my illness, I found I 
was much weakened in my body, but still went 
on with my work, still being over four hundred 
men who worked in the water-works. At this 
time I found I was not sanctified, for sometimes 
I would be earnest and sometimes careless, and 
sometimes found myself unhappy and at other 
times happy. I saw the carnal nature in my heart 
and the 'old man' would show himself. At this 
time the Lord spoke to me and told me to testify 
of this wonderful salvation, but I felt I could not, 
as I was not sanctified, and that I must know the 
Bible better. I decided to consecrate my all to 
God and give up all manual labor and study the 
Bible alone. I found this to be difficult, as I had 
this position over these men and had been given 



toS Miracms in Japan. 

rewards for being so good in the prison, and they 
would even allow me to go outside alone, trusting 
me fully. I felt I wanted to study quietly, so I 
asked the warden to build me a room for myself, 
but every time I asked he told me it was against 
the rules. (This rule has since been changed.) 
Many times 1 had asked him and was becoming 
desperate, and finally decided to ask the warden 
for the last time. Having prepared some weap- 
on, I was going to kill him and then myself if 
he refused, for the devil came and took possession 
of me through my will which I wanted, and not 
having sought God's will in this matter. Meet- 
ing the warden again, he told me very kindly, 
and more gently than he ever had .before, to wait 
a little while. I did not kill him, but went to my 
room, realizing how Satan had taken possession 
of me, and deeply repented of my sin. I saw how 
I wanted my own will, and I now felt I would 
rather die than live the up-and-down life I had 
been living, but had not taken it to God in prayer. 
When I repented, I prayed to God to give me the 
room. Then I went to the, warden and confessed 
how I wanted the room so much that if he refused 
me, I did not want to live and was going to kill 
him also. He was much surprised, and, rinding 
how much I wanted the room, said I might have 
one. This was in answer to prayer. 

"Although they made the room ready for me, 
the warden would not allow me to live in it, but 



Miracles in Japan. 109 

kept me with the others in a room wliere there 
were fifty or more persons. Time after time I 
asked to be allowed to live by myself, but the 
warden told me to wait a little longer. After six 
months I grew tired of waiting, and decided to 
give up my position, and this was one of the rea- 
sons why they would not let me go, because it 
would hinder the water-works, but I did not care 
for that ; I wanted to study the Bible. They told 
me I was the best man of the four thousand pris- 
oners, and by good conduct I won a medal, which 
was fastened on my left arm. When we had won 
five of these, we would be freed; I felt this was 
deceitfulness, and I had won it by just appearing 
good before the officers, so I tore it from my arm. 
My friends all told me I was crazy, and 1 knew 
it was an insult to the officers who had bestowed 
the reward, but I wanted to get through to vic- 
tory. I told all my friends good-bye, for I was 
going to study the Bible and the deep things of 
God. They tried to persuade me to give it up, 
but I would not. After taking the medal from 
my arm, the officers and all my friends turned 
against me and the persecution grew worse and 
worse. Sometimes they would throw me in the 
moat, but I did not care at all. The officers, 
thinking I was crazy, put me in the lock-up and 
tried to starve me as punishment, but I was very 
happy and praised God. Still I was not sanctified. 



no Miraci^s in Japan. 

I did not know what sanctification was then, but I 
knew I only saw God dimly and wanted Him to 
dwell with me always, giving me perfect victory. 
"I was not allowed to be idle, so they brought 
me straw and had me to make rope. I worked 
at this, but by living in such a small room, six 
feet square, and having no exercise, I became 
very thin, being able to put my two hands around 
my waist. The officers came to me and told me 
if I would not disobey them, but would work out- 
side as they wanted me to do, I would grow 
strong; but they said I was so stubborn I would 
have to stay in this little room and make rope. 
When I became so weak I could not make rope, 
Satan often tempted me with their offers, but I 
said no, it is God's will for me to be alone and 1 
will stay here. It was not because I did not want 
to work, but because I wanted to know God and 
preach salvation, I would not be the overseer over 
those four hundred men. Winter came on and J 
had no fire and Satan tempted, but God kept me 
steadfast in my purpose. Often Buddhist priests 
visited me, but every time I would reoeat Script- 
ure to them, and always gained the victory. 
Finally the officers put the sign 'insane' over my 
door, but still I praised God. From the beginning 
I was able to praise Him because Jesus said His 
disciples were not to be of the world, but sep- 
arated from it; so when they put me in the lock- 



Miracles in Japan. hi 

up and all turned to be my enemies, I knew I was 
not only separated from the world, but the world 
from me. I decided to begin with the New Tes- 
tament and study it for three years, then after- 
ward the Old Testament for seven years. I had 
to work in the daytime, but at night by some light 
that came into my room I studied. I was indeed 
glad to have this chance of studying. 

"It became very cold and it seemed I would 
be unable to make any rope, but bv rubbing my 
hands together and sometimes hitting them on a 
board they would get warm enough for me to 
work. It was God who helped me, and I was en- 
abled to do more than anv person usually does. 
Finally they builded more rooms for insane peo- 
ple, and soon there were eleven inmates in these 
rooms. The officers decided I would be a good 
person to look after them ; so, feeling it was God's 
will, I took the position. Among these inmates 
was one man to whom I had preached salvation, 
and who knew what God had done for me, but 
he had become insane. None of the prisoners 
were allowed to speak in a loud voice, but they 
could not keep this man still, and surely God was 
in it, for he preached salvation and repentance to 
those about him. When the warden would come, 
he would cry out : 'Repent, you bad warden ; you 
are a bad man for keeping Mr. Koji in prison. 
And to the Buddhist priests, and to everyone, he 



ii2 Miracles in Japan. 

would preach salvation and tell them to learn of 
me, for I was a righteous man, and that they 
must repent and follow what I told them, and not 
listen to the priests, if they wanted to become 
good. Day and night this man preached in a 
loud voice to everybody who came near. 

He Gets the Blessing. 

"My greatest temptation was lust. I could not 
get victory over it, but I felt I must have victory. 
One night I was earnestly praying in the summer, 
with my hands on the floor. The mosquitoes 
came around me and made a great noise and bit 
me, but I kept on praying. Soon I looked up and 
there lay the mosquitoes on the floor dead, filled 
with blood and satisfied. Suddenly God spoke to 
me and showed me that just like the mosquitoes 
were satisfied with by blood, so I could be satisfied 
and cleansed, and my troubled heart stilled, by 
the blood of Jesus. As soon as the blood of Christ 
touched me, I felt it would satisfy me, so I looked 
in faith to Jesus, and a great peace came into my 
heart, and I knew I was cleansed. From that 
time everything was changed. Before, I had 
been trying to get sanctified by my own good 
works and will, but now it was perfect neace, and 
the good works came not by planning, but by 
God's plan ; and I could understand the Bible 
much better. Before I was sanctified I did not 






MiracIvDS in Japan. 113 

grow in grace as I wanted to, but afterward all I 
did was to grow. This was fourteen years ago. 

An Answer to Prayer. 

"Soon after I was sanctified I had a wonderful 
answer to prayer. One day, while looking out of 
my little room, I saw the warden attacked by a 
strong insane man. He took the warden's sword 
and unsheathed it, holding the warden down with 
his knees, and was almost ready to run the sword 
through him, when the warden, who knew my 
room was near, called : 'Yoshitaro, Yoshitaro, 
come and help me.' I knew of no way to get out 
of my cell, it being locked with strong bolts, so I 
prayed, 'O God, unlock this door.' My strength 
was gone and I had none to push the door open 
with, but I pushed against it and the heavy bolt 
broke in two pieces, and I rushed out, grabbing 
the sword from the insane man, saving the war- 
den's life. The other prisoners and wardens gath- 
ered around, and I told them it was by God's 
grace I had saved the man's life. Immediately 
they wanted to kill this man, but I told them no, 
to give him to me. I took him to my room and 
told him to repent of his wicked deeds, but he 
grew very angry and hit me with his big hand, 
but still I kept on telling him slowly and kindly 
to repent. He said, 'I will kill you,' and I said, 
'Yes, you will kill me, but it is not you, but the 



ii4 Miracles in Japan. 

devil in you.' His feet were much bruised, so I 
sucked the poisonous blood out of them and 
bound them up with cloths. The light of God 
struck the man, and he cried out and repented 
of his sins and became as quiet as a lamb. The 
people, who had been standing around listening 
and talking, were much surprised. I begged to 
keep him with me all night, which they allowed 
me to do, and he was so good I asked the war- 
den not to punish him cruelly, as is the custom, 
but to give him light punishment. This he did, 
putting him in a dark room for nve days and 
giving him poor food, an unusually light sentence. 

"The warden called me to him and told me 
he knew me very well, but when I gave up every- 
thing for my religion he thought surely I was 
crazy, but they had been mistaken, and he knew 
now why I did it. He told me I was so thin and 
needed exercise, so I might feel at liberty to go 
out of my room when I pleased. This made me 
very happy to think that now God had given me 
liberty to take exercise, and that I would get 
strong again. 

"After I got the blessing of sanctification, 
many people were blessed; even the officers 
would come to my room to talk to me about my 
religion, and when they would meet me, they 
would salute me very politely; but God gave me 
a good warning in the form of the insane man, 



Miracles in Japan. 115 

who would warn me not to become proud. He 
would say : 'I am the angel from God ; do not get 
proud.' I felt this man was a great blessing, 
especially when Satan would tempt me. I was 
growing in grace from day to day, when a great 
blessing came to me in the guise of a trial. A 
very wicked young boy was brought to the prison 
and was always causing disturbances, and no one 
could control him, until the wardens said : 'Yoshi- 
taro is a holy man; let the boy live with him.' 
Oh what a temptation it was at first ! but I looked 
to God in prayer, and He gave blessed victory all 
the time. I knew then that I was sanctified or 1 
never could have stood it to have lived with that 
boy. 

"1 had now been studying the New Testament 
for three years, and some parts of it I had read 
ten thousand times. The Gospels I knew very 
well. 

"At the time of the death of the Empress 
Dowager, eight hundred prisoners were released. 
Before this time I had often spoken to them, ad- 
vising them to save their money; some of them 
did, but some felt they would have to spend their 
money to satisfy their desire for pleasure, so at 
this time those who had saved their money re- 
turned home to their parents, but those who had 
no money remained in the penitentiary. The 
former thanked me very much for my advice, and 



n6 MiRACivES in Japan. 

were glad they had heeded. My sentence at this 
time was shortened, and the warden told me that 
the next year I would be sent to 1 my native coun- 
try's penitentiary. This is the custom we have 
of sending the prisoners back to the native peni- 
tentiary near the end of their term of imprison- 
ment. He also told me, as my body was weak, I 
must take more exercise; for, though my spirit 
was all right, I could not work when released if 
my body was weak. Again they were short of 
workers in the water-works, and I was asked to 
take my old place as the boss over the men, which 
I felt the Lord would have me now do for my 
body's sake. 

"On the 5th of March, 1898, I was to return 
to my native country, Yokohama, and I was so 
glad. After thanking the warden and the friends 
in the prison who loved me, especially Mr. and 
Mrs. Harada, who had taught me the alphabet 
and how to read my Bible, and from whom I had 
learned many spiritual lessons, I left that peni- 
tentiary, where I had been for over ten years. 
Before leaving, I found the warden of the place 
to which I was going was one of my old war- 
dens, who was a Christian, and for this I was 
very glad. 

"I started to Yokohama in company with a 
policeman, and when we arrived at Muroran, 
where we were to take a steamer, we found we 



MiRACivSS in Japan. 117 

should have to stay all night in a hotel. The 
policeman's heart was touched on account of my 
having been in prison for so many long years, and 
he said to me : 'You have not had very good food, 
and have had such a hard time, now order any- 
thing you want to eat.' He ordered tobacco and 
wine, but. when it came I told him I could not take 
it, for I was a Christian and did not care for such 
things, and would rather have the plain food of 
the prison. He was deeply touched, and said : "So 
you are a man that fears God?' I replied that I 
was. He then said: 'Well, I can sleep good to- 
night, for I shall not be afraid of a Christian.'" 
So we had a good night's rest. 

"The next day we took the steamer, and when 
we were on the voyage evervone was seasick, even 
my guard ; but I had been raised by the seashore 
and did. not get sick, so was able to care for the 
passengers. My guard was thankful for my as- 
sistance to him. All the way on the voyage he 
treated me as his friend, and not as a prisoner. 
Afterwards we took the train, and, arriving in 
Tokyo, we came to the station called Shimbashi, 
and from this station I could see the roof of my 
old home. My heart went up in thanksgiving 
to God for His great mercy in allowing me this 
privilege, and also I appreciated the Emperor's 
benevolence. 

"It was with gladness I met the warden at 



n8 Miracles in Japan. 

Yokohama, who also was glad to meet me, and 
gave me freedom that the other prisoners did not 
have. He asked me about my mother, but for 
ten years I had no communication with her, and 
did not know where she was. The police of To- 
kyo, however, searched for her and found her. 
She came to see me, and when we met for the 
first time in seventeen years we just looked at each 
other and could not speak. She had greatly 
changed. We talked about my relatives, she tell- 
ing me what had become of them, and finally tell- 
ing how some had told her I was dead, others that 
I was alive, until she decided to go to Hokkaido 
to find me. There she had no support and be- 
came a mid-wife, thus earning her living while 
searching for me; but all was in vain, and she 
returned to Tokyo. How glad she was to see 
me ! for she had a very tender heart. 

"In this penitentiary I became a nurse for the 
sick prisoners, and one case was especially inter- 
esting. It was that of a Buddhist priest, who had 
a severe boil. The doctors said he could not live, 
but I felt God would heal him and also save him. 
The priest treated me very cruelly when he fou.id 
I was a Christian. He was continually repeating 
some Buddhist prayers. At last I decided to open 
the boil, and, praying to God, I cut it ; immediate- 
ly the man was healed, and when he became con- 
scious he was so thankful to me and gave up 



Miracles in Japan. 119 

Buddha, saying he was no good, and that our God 
was the true God. To-day he is still an earnest 
Christian. Many others were also healed. For 
twenty years I have not ta"ken any drugs, and 
others have also been healed through my prayers. 

Vision of the Coming of the Lord. 

"There appeared in this vision a great ser- 
pent, about one hundred and twenty feet long, 
upon the ceiling of the hospital of the peniten- 
tiary. The body of the serpent was as large as 
a bathtub and it had two heads, one at each end. 
One head was like a lion's and it had a very big 
voice, with which it roared all the time, shaking 
the walls of the building. The inmates would try 
to kill it, but they would either be killed in the 
attempt or wounded, and the creature would' be- 
come more furious ; but I prayed to God and re- 
ceived new strength, with which I threw my Bible 
at it, which broke it all into pieces about an inch 
long. These pieces changed into beautiful pearls, 
silver, gold, and many precious stones. Before 
the serpent was broken into pieces the people 
were crying out to heaven for help, but now their 
sorrow and fearfulness were all turned to joy. 
Some gathered one piece, some four, some seven, 
some twelve, some twenty-four, some, forty-two, 
and others forty-eight. 

"The part I took was the four eyes, with 



120 Miraci.es in Japan. 

which I was able to see all over the world; but, 
when I gave them to someone else who wanted 
two of them, the two turned to useless pebbles, 
and finally to venomous serpents, until the peo- 
ple gave them back to me, when they became most 
priceless jewels. Then the four eyes began to 
speak to me, telling rne that this was a vision, 
soon to be fulfilled, upon mankind, and for me to 
wait just a little while and I would see it come 
to pass. 

"Awakening from the dream, I found my 
body covered with perspirarion; so I got up, 
changed my clothing, but could sleep no more, 
and felt very uneasy in my heart to know what 
it meant. The next day I prayed to know what 
it meant. 

A Second Dream. 

"This time, just one year after the first vision, 
I was carried up into an holy city in which was 
a very high mountain, which was a broad plain 
on top, about 280 miles square. Here the na- 
tions of the earth seemed to be gathered together, 
holding some kind of a conference, but none of 
them agreed to the same thing. All had different 
opinions and were telling what they thought, 
when suddenly there appeared in this most beau- 
tiful park three men of noble stature, riding on 
white clouds. The people then made a throne for 
them and they sat down. No one dared to tell 



Miracles in Japan. 121 

these wonderful visitors about what they had 
been speaking, but whispered among themselves. 
I decided to speak to them, and said : 'Most noble 
men, will you allow your servant of the dust to 
speak to you, even though my words are very 
unworthy words?' The youngest one of the 
three, who was the same young boy who had 
spoken to me before in visions, said : 'I know that 
you are one who earnestly seeks after God. 
Blessed is he that believeth on the true One. If 
you continue faithful, the time Will come when 
God will reveal things for you to speak concern- 
ing things to come. Be not lazy, for the time 
will come when he that is unrighteous, let him be 
unrighteous still. And behold, I come quickly; 
and my reward is with me, to give every man ac- 
cording as his work shall be/ 

"Then the second man, who held in his right 
hand a rod of iron, spoke: 'Son of man, listen 
to what I have to say to thee. The things you 
seek are ready; and things are accomplished; if 
you ask with faith, it shall be given you. Many 
are called, but few are chosen. Seek thou not 
after flesh, but after spirit. Keep thy life perfect, 
and before the people testify what you have seen 
and heard without any fear, but it will not be you 
speaking, but the Spirit of God speaking in you, 
and when the time comes God will reveal that 
unto you/ 



122 Miracles in Japan. 

"Then the third one began to speak, who 
seemed very old. He said: 'Listen, boy, atten- 
tively. Depend not on your works. God is going 
to use you to settle wrong things, but be thou 
not proud. The mystery of the faith is com- 
pleted. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning 
and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, 
and which was, and which is To come, the Al- 
mighty.'' We will come again. Be not proud, for 
you will be a witness unto the ends of the world, 
and what you are to testify is concerning the 
whole family of earth. You do not know what to 
speak, but it will be revealed to you. Work pa- 
tiently for the Church until you see the coming 
glory of God, and the blackness and whiteness 
divided.' After seeing many other things, my 
dream came to a close. 

"Since those visions, everything seemed so in- 
definite, and I was much troubled and began to 
examine my life since my conversion. I discov- 
ered there was spiritual pride in my heart. An- 
other thing I also became very much concerned 
about, that was some of the people in the 
hospital who were not getting saved. Eighty 
people had died, some in the Lord and 
some in their sins, and on account of these 
latter I was concerned, for I felt that I had 
not done what I could have done for them. I 
thought I was a very spiritual man, but when I 



Miracles in Japan. 123 

saw I was not so spiritual and was backsliding 
in my heart, I repented of this and decided to 
separate myself from the people, staying in my 
room forty days and nights, that I might read and 
pray that God might renew me in my spirit and 
reveal to me the dreams I had. Just as the forty 
days ended I felt surely the Lord would reveal to 
me the mystery of those dreams, and on the last 
day a Spirit-filled preacher brought his commen- 
tary on Revelation to me, and through this I 
received great spiritual blessings and the whole 
Bible became clearer to me, this subject of the 
second coming of Christ furnishing me a won- 
derful key. Some time afterwards I received 
Bro. Nakada's paper, called Tongues of Fire, 
and was greatly astonished and rejoiced to 
find that there were people in the world out- 
side of the prison who held the same views con- 
cerning the coming of the Lord as I did. 

"One year ago the 15th of this month (April, 
1905) I was called into an assembly of many 
prisoners and officers, and the superintendent, 
Mr. Arima, handed me a paper and then read it 
to me. It was my release from prison, to take 
place in December; but, on account of my good 
behavior, and this superintendent being a Chris- 
tian, I was released from that April. 

"Immediately after my release I was invited 
to his home for a praise meeting with his family. 



124 Miracxss in Japan. 

What a blessed time we had ! This very man of 
whom I had been the most afraid while in the 
penitentiary was now my best friend, and that 
night he made my bed for me himself. 

"The next day I went to my mother's home, 
and we were both indescribably happy, and soon 
afterwards went to call on the relatives of 
the woman I had killed years ago. While 
in prison I had sent them money to help 
support her nearest relative, which had been 
accepted and used, so they knew me quite well, 
and when I asked their pardon for what I 
had done they gladly forgave me. One of 
them is a well-known wealthy man in Tokyo, and 
he said he would treat me hereafter as one of his 
relatives. I testified to them about what the 
Lord had done for me, and they were glad. 

"It had been twenty-three years that I had 
been a stranger to the outside world, and when 
I came out of the prison everything was much 
changed. It seemed to me the world had prown 
worse, but I thought surely I should find some- 
thing good in Christian society. I went among 
them and found they were quite indifferent, and 
not what I felt a Christian ought to be, so I de- 
termined to cling to the Lord more and more. 

"Although I was freed, yet I was not allowed 
to work publicly, and could not become a preach- 
er, but will be perfectly free in December. I 



Miracles in Japan. 125 

have been helping Mr. Tomeoka in his reform 
school for boys. These boys were very bad, but 
some of them have been helped through my tes- 
timony and some saved. They feel there is hope 
when I tell them what a wicked man I was and 
how the Lord saved me. 

"My desire after I become free in December 
is to enter the Bible school and prepare to preach 
the full Gospel." 

— Cozvman and Kilbourne. 



JUST BECAUSE HE LOVED ME SO. 






"I was born in the town of San jo, Echigo, 
My father died when I was five years old, and 
when I was nine I came to Tokyo with my moth- 
er and started to school here. When father died, 
mother said: 'I wonder what kind of a boy this 
will grow up to be.' 

"Many were the bad things I learned at 
school, and mother, brother and relatives were 
greatly troubled about me. My mother would 
often say : 'My boy, if you do not change, it will 
be better for us both to die." 

"I sto~~°d school and went to work, and while 
my outer life became better, yet my heart was un- 
changed. 

"I heard many sermons of the priests, as my 
family were of the strictest sect of the Buddhists, 
but they did not help me, and often I would grow 
so discouraged and sad, but could find no relief 
anywhere. 

"Two years ago, on November 3d, I heard for 
the first time about Jesus. 'But,' I thought, 'will 
He save everybody? would He save me?' 

"My heart was so broken I did not know 

126 




Sunday-school Pupil of Choshi, Japan. 



Miracles in Japan. 129 

what to do, but I confessed all my sins to Him 
and He forgave them all, and not only that, but 
the old habits I had been trying to quit I found 
myself freed from. 

"I worked in a shop where they sold things 
I now could not sell, and I felt I could not stay, 
but mother did not understand me, and said if I 
left I could not come home; but the Lord said, 
4 Leave that place,' and, while my faith was weak 
and I was trembling, yet He held me firm. 

"One night, as I lay down to sleep, I heard 
the voice of Jesus calling me to preach, and while 
I am only little and nothing, yet I have given 
myself wholly to Him. My brother heard of this 
and came to take me home, and I took my little 
Bible and went along. When I reached home, 
mother said : 'You must give up your Jesus re- 
ligion." But I said, "I cannot, mother," and told 
her of my blessings and how He .had called me. 
Then they whipped me, and it seemed like parting 
with my life to have my Bible taken from me, 
and for ten days I was kept a prisoner in the 
room, and things happened which make my 
heart pain so I cannot tell it, but through it all 
God held me and kept guard over me. My broth- 
er asked once more what my purpose for the fu- 
ture was, and I said : 'To preach about Jesus/ 
He then said : 'You can no longer be counted one 



130 Miracles in Japan. 

of our family, can no longer be called by our 
name ; you must leave/ 

"I felt so sad, and my heart pained, and I had 
nowhere to go, but I found work in a silk fac- 
tory, and was there over a year. During that 
time I was very ill twice, and Satan tempted me 
greatly, but the Lord stood by my side and healed 
me. He led me to the Bible School, and, on New 
Year's morning, at two o'clock, as I was waiting 
before Him in prayer, I felt the cleansing blood 
applied to my heart, and since that time I have 
had sweet victory. I was a sinner, but Jesus loved 
me. Hallelujah! Praise His name! 

" 'This is why I love my Jesus, 
This is why I love Him so, 
He has pardoned my transgressions, 
He has made me white as snow.' 

"Your young brother, T. Koid£." 

Bible School Student, Tokyo. 

— Cowman and Kilbourne. 




Sunday-school Boy who led his whole 
Family to Christ. 



S— SAN. 



It was a cold night in January of 1905, when 
but few entered the Mission and took seats, while 
quite a number stood just inside the door and 
listened to the Gosoel story. Among those stand- 
ing was S — San, who overtook us on our way 
home (as we went home early), and said: "Ex- 
cuse my rudeness, but can you please tell me 
where and how I can be saved? I must join my 
regiment to-morrow and start for the front. I 
stopped at the Mission and was so convicted that 
I want to be saved now. I did not have time to 
wait till the meeting closed, so will you please 
teach me?" After talking to him for a short 
time, we found that his life had recently been 
much given to dissipation and drunkenness. He 
had become tired of sin and was seeking soul- 
rest. He went home with us and knelt in prayer 
and with tears confessed his sins. God wonder- 
fully saved him that night, and he went on his 
way rejoicing. 

He often wrote to us from the regiment, say- 
ing that the Lord was wonderfully keeping him. 
On his return to Tokyo, he was greatly delighted 

133 



134 Miracles in Japan. 

to return to his home, where his father and 
mother anxiously were looking for him. When 
he entered, he took out his Bible, and, after read- 
ing a portion of it, knelt in prayer and thanks- 
giving to God. He told his parents that it was 
the true God in whom he trusted who had 
brought him back safely from the war without 
even a wound, after fighting in four battles. His 
parents, being Buddhists and much opposed to 
Christianity, became angry and forbade him to 
read his Bible. Finding this would not avail, 
they hid it. By the help of a little brother, the 
precious book was found in the bottom of a 
clothes-chest. His parents then demanded him to 
give up his Christian faith or they would disown 
him, and never allow him to return home. 

Through some business transactions and his 
life of sin he had lost about five hundred yen, 
which he had received from his father. This debt 
was to be forgiven if he would give up his faith 
and stay at home, but must be paid back imme- 
diately if he did not. As his father was a 
wealthy merchant and he heir to all his estate, it 
was a real test of his loyalty to Christ. He said 
to his parents: "You mav take away my heir- 
ship and all I have and cast me off, but you 
cannot take the joy and peace from my heart." 
That night he left his home, father, mother, broth- 
ers and sisters, all the more dear to his heart be- 



Miracles in Japan. 135 

cause of being absent so long on the cruel battle- 
field. He visited us several times, talking his 
heart out and praying for grace to stand true. 

It was touching to hear him tell how God an- 
swered prayer and kept him true when passing 
through some of the most severe tests while in the 
battle front. He, being the only Christian in his 
regiment, was subject to scoffs and ridicule, and 
was called Yasu (Jesus). Often, when reading 
his Bible, they would puff tobacco smoke into his 
face. When put into the most dangerous places, 
he proved so faithful that he was promoted to be 
an attendant to. a prince. Once, on seeing a poor 
Russian soldier lying wounded and suffering 
from the cold, he took off his own coat and put it 
on the poor man. This kind deed saved the man's 
life, and after his recovery he thanked Bro. Su- 
zuki and gave him his sacred silver charm that 
his life also might be protected, as a token of his 
gratefulness. 

Once his father called him back home on pre- 
tense of helping him. When he reached home 
they took him to a Buddhist temple and kept him 
there several days. They had the priests to do all 
in their power to persuade him to give up his 
faith. He said to them: "It is useless for me to 
argue with you, as you know the Bible better 
than 1 do. I do not know enough to argue with 
you, but I do know what Jesus has done for me, 



136 



Miracms in Japan. 



and you cannot talk it out of me." Seeing they 
could not move his faith, the priests told the 
parents that their son was possessed with the evil 
spirits, and there was no help for him. He was 
again thrust out of their presence and told not to 
return. 

He found a position to work in a Christian 
firm in Tokyo and has since been letting his light 
shine as a Christian. Falsehoods told by his rela- 
tives, etc., twice caused him to pass through the 
severest trials, in which he lost his hold on God, 
as well as his joy. But, having once had the ex- 
perience of salvation, he soon came back to God 
and found peace to his soul. We praise God that 
during these times of darkness he was kept from 
going back to his former life of sin. Later, the 
parents became more reconciled to their son's 
faith, and now he enjoys the privilege of visiting 
his home occasionally. 

In the autumn of 1906 he was baptized ana 
received into a church in Tokyo. He continues 
to be an earnest witness for Christ. 




Kimura San. 



FORMER DRUNKARD NOW PREACHING 
THE GOSPEL. 



"I began to drink at seventeen years of age 
and by and by was led into a life of dissipation. 
I became such a slave to this awful appetite that 
until I was twenty-two years old I drank two or 
three quarts of sake (rice beer) a day. I lost my 
reputation, had family quarrels and failed in busi- 
ness. I owned a dye shop and made lots of 
money, but spent it all in drink and other wick- 
edness. A Japanese proverb says : 'When taking 
the first cup, the man drinks it, the second is 
drunk by itself and the third drinks the man.' 
My condition was that I was wholly drunk by 
the cup. As the result of this, trouble, affliction, 
failure, disappointment, and quarrels continually 
besieged me and I had no power of deliverance. 
My uncle and other relatives and friends often 
exhorted and entreated me to give up drinking. 
I determined to do so, but, the evil power being 
stronger than mine, I was able to hold out only 
two or three days. 

"Serving Satan still more faithfully, I became 
quite unable to do my work properly and suffered 

139 



140 Miracles in Japan. 

great losses in business. My father reproved and 
refmked me with anger, and at times with tears 
of love pleaded with me to reform and do better. 
However, this gave me no power to carry it out, 
and in my own strength it was impossible. My 
good resolutions, patience and reformation were 
all a failure. This left me nothing but disap- 
pointment and despair, and the evil one deceived 
me more and more. He made me believe it was 
useless and foolish to try to control my lustful 
nature ; that liquor was the best kind of medicine 
for the body ; that man's life at the best was only 
a few years, and the happiest and the best way to 
spend it was to drink, feast, and have a good 
time with worldly pleasures. 

"I thus went down lower and lower in sin. 
Matt. 12:45 was m y condition. Being bound by 
evil habits, I carried my burden of sin and was 
a child of unrighteousness. My soul was tired 
and weary and in continual agony (Rom. 7:19- 
24). This was my slave-life to sin. 

"On the night of December 12, 1898, I passed 
a mission in a very intoxicated condition. I went 
in to see what was going on. They were having 
inquirers' meeting. I made a great disturbance 
and tried to argue. Paying no attention to re- 
quests for me to keep quiet, I disturbed the meet- 
ing more and more. After sobering up a little, 
I listened to the Gospel story for the first time, 



Miracles in Japan. 141 

from Brother Buxton and his helper. That 
night I went home, not especially changed, but 
God did not forsake even a poor, sinful fellow 
like me. 

"The next morning a preacher came and 
taught me kindly and plainly about the Gospel. 
Rom. 1:16, I. Cor. 1:18. Until this time, I had 
tried to reform in my own strength before man 
and invariably made a total failure. But now I 
heard the blessed Gospel news and was saved 
from my awful sins. Col. 1 115, Acts 20:21. The 
power of the cross and Gospel grace saved me 
from drink, took away the yoke of sin and gave 
me liberty and salvation. Gal. 5 :i is Christ's ex- 
hortation to me, and II. Cor. 5:17 is mv expe- 
rience. My main desire had been to be saved 
from drink, but the grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ saved me also from all my sins and evil 
ways. Thank God. Hallelujah! 

"I told my uncle what God had done, in tak- 
ing away my appetite for drink and changing my 
life and heart. He said: 'If that is true, I will 
give you my head.' He meant that he could not 
believe it. (The Japanese often use this ex- 
pression.) But the power of the Gospel saved 
me, and I never drank again. Rom. 1 :i6. I be- 
came a new man and God has a crown of li:e laid 
up for me. Hallelujah ! I praise God for His sav- 
ing power. 'Come and see,' readers of this l.esti- 

8- 



i4 2 Miraci^s in Japan. 

mony, if you have not done so. Repent of your 
sins and be saved. Serve God and sing songs 
and praises unto Him. 

"As I glance back over the seven years of my 
Christian experience, I see joy and liberty, and 
as I look forward I see hope and peace. I am 
fighting the 'good fight of faith,' going forward 
in the way of faith. Three years ago I received 
a call from God to preach the Gospel. Hearing 
God's voice clearly concerning this matter, I 
prayed that He might open the way for me to go 
to a Bible school. God answered prayer, and by 
the help of two missionaries in Yokohama, I was 
able to enter the Tokyo Bible School. I gave up 
all for the sake of preaching the Gospel. This 
meant separation from dearest earthly friends, 
but I determined to obey God. Paul knew 
Jesus' love, was constrained by it, and was filled 
with it, being able to testify to the Gospel of 
grace even to the sacrificing of his life. Acts 
20:17-24. These words wonderfully help me 
# when I have tests in the work. I thank God He 
has not given this precious and wonderful work 
of preaching the Gospel to angels, but to such 
saved sinners as I. So to preach the Gospel is my 
work, my commission, my life. I am now testify- 
ing and spreading this Gospel in the Province of 
Izumo. All the brethren and sisters who read 
this, please pray for Japan and the Orient. 

'K. Kimura." 



MIYOSHI SAN'S TESTIMONY. 



(Railway Official.) 

As I look back upon my past life, I can only 
say it was spent in all sorts of profligacy and sin. 
I had, moreover, a vile temper, so that every day 
I was quarrelling with my wife, and when I went 
from my home I was no better, and was con- 
stantly at loggerheads with everyone I knew. I 
was consequently pretty much disliked by all my 
friends, and yet I could never see that I was the 
one to blame, and so hated and disliked them be- 
cause, as I thought, they were not treating me 
well. 

"My work every day is on the Sanyo Line 
at the Kobe Station. When I was first taken on 
there I was well reported of by the higher offi- 
cials, and so gained promotion above others- who 
had been longer there than I. But I am sorry 
to say I soon lost my previous reputation 
through lack of diligence. I soon got tired of my 
work, and gradually realizing that I had lost 
my name as an industrious workman, I lost all 
heart and interest in my work. I then began to 
143 " : ' - 



J 44 MiracIvSs in Japan. 

shirk my work and take off days without any 
special reason. My superiors noticed this and 
warned me several times. I did not, however, 
pay any heed to them, but, on the contrary, op- 
posed them. The station-master himself, Mr. 
Sakamoto, who is a Christian man, though I did 
not know till after I was baptized, spoke to me 
most kindly and said : 'You have been reported 
to me as being always off duty, and continually 
shirking your work; I see that you are in ex- 
cellent health, and you ought, therefore, to be 
more diligent than anyone else.' This is all that 
he said. When I came and began to think over 
what he had said, I made up my mind to be dili- 
gent once more and to turn over a new leaf. I 
thank God that this was in some way a sort of 
preparation of my heart to receive His salvation. 
Now, I had never once heard in all my life up 
to this time that there was only one true God. 
My only conception of gods and religions was 
the 'Hotoke/ which, of course, I did not in the 
least believe in and did not worship. Of course, 
I had never heard of Christ. It was on the 
evening of the 5th of June of this year that 1 
was walking down Tamondori, and heard some 
people singing outside the door of the Mission 
Hall. I went in without in the least thinking 
what I was doing, and certainly with no intention 
of paying much attention. It was then that I 



MiRACijes' in Japan, 145 

heard of the salvation in Jesus Christ for the first 
time in my life. Mr. Takeda spoke from Tohn 
xv. and Colossians ii. 20. Then I heard two ser- 
mons from Mr. Wilkes, on the prodigal son, in 
Luke xv., and the barren fig tree, in Luke xiii. 
Through these sermons I was deeply convicted 
and gave my heart to God. The peace and rest 
that He has given me! I am rejoicing all the 
day in my work. It was only the other day that 
he spoke to me through the Scripture Union por- 
tion in wonderful power, 'Fear not, for I am 
with thee.' This has been an immense help and 
strength to me. Laying hold of this oromise, I 
have grown peaceful and fearless while I am 
working in very dangerous places. My superiors 
have perceived the light of the Lord Jesus in my 
change of life. Hallelujah! 

"Soon after my conversion I was laid aside 
by some brain trouble. I suffered acutely, but, 
praise God ! there is in my heart an unspeakable 
praise, and hence I was enabled to recover more 
rapidly than otherwise I could have done. 

"My wife, with whom I had quarreled, and 
who was living apart from me in my native 
country, came at once to nurse me. She was in- 
deed rejoiced to see me so changed, and now we 
are living together again in peace. I am so anx- 
ious to show my joy with my companions, so I 



146 Miracles in Japan. 

am visiting them whenever I have an holiday, 
and, thank God ! some of them, who know that 
He has saved me so wonderfully, are being led to 
God. Hallelujah!" 

—Japan Evangelistic Band Quarterly. 



A GLORIOUS DEATH. 



Among the brave men who have won the 
admiration of the world and brought immortal 
glory to Japan is a sergeant named Matsubara, 
who first heard the Gospel at Kanazawa. He 
afterwards obtained a Xew Testament, but for a 
time could not understand it at all. He persisted, 
however, in reading through the Gospels of Mat- 
thew and John. The more he read the more he 
was able to catch the meaning; until, on finish- 
ing those two Gospels, he decided to apply for 
baptism, which was administered by Rev. Mr. 
Cumming. 

Up to this time he had heard only two or 
three sermons, and his knowledge of God and 
spiritual things was derived mostly from the 
Scriptures. 

At the beginning of the war with Russia, he 
was sent with his division to the Liaotung Pen- 
insula. On his way there, the regiment stayed 
for some time at Hiroshima. During that time 
Rev. Mr. Murata, of the Episcopal Church, used 
to call at the lodging-house where he was stay- 
ing, and hold religious services. There were 

147 



148 MiraclKS in Japan. 

some who listened; but others opposed and ridi- 
culed the Christian teaching. 

Among the hearers at one of the meetings 
was a soldier of the same company, whose name 
was Ishikawa. He was a most unruly man — 
given to all kinds of dissipation, and especially 
disliked Christianity. 

As a result of what he then heard, a great 
change took place in his mind ; and from that 
time he was a most ardent listener to the Word 
of God. 

In an account of this man, Sergeant Matsu- 
bara says: 

"As an evidence of the great change in the 
man, he threw away the pictures of bad girls, 
which he had before carried, and took a Bible 
instead. 

"It was on the eve of the memorable battle of 
Nanshan that I opened the Book of Psalms and 
read to him: 'Though an host should encamp 
against me, my heart shall not fear; though war 
should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I 
seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the 
Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beau- 
ty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.' 

"After reading, I prayed. He prayed also, 
and his prayer was, to my surprise, mostly for 
the comrades whom he had most hated. He had 






Miracles in Japan. 149 

learned to love his enemy! What joy I felt when 
I heard this prayer of his ! 

"The morning of the 26th of May began to 
dawn. The hour for action drew near. There 
was great excitement. 

"The time for attack came at last, and the 
battle began with all its fury. The fire ot our 
cannon was responded to by still larger ones of 
the enemy. The earth seemed to shake with the 
noise. 

"The enemy's guns were at last silenced, and 
our infantry made a dash to the front. But as 
soon as we did so they began to shell Us with 
their machine guns so fiercely that great numbers' 
of our officers and men fell on the spot. 

"A bullet hit Ishikawa, and he fell wounded. 
Seeing this, I went to his help and repeated, al- 
most unconsciously, these words : 'Though I 
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with me ; Thy 
rod and Thy staff they comfort me.' 

"He responded instantly: 'For which cause I 
faint not; but though our outward man perish, 
yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For 
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal 
weight of glory.' 

"Just when he had finished these words, an- 
other bullet hit him, and he seemed to be aware 



150 Miracles in Japan. 

that his end had come. He grasped my hand and 
cried : 'Christ will receive me !' Then he died. 

"His end was all peace. Such a confession of 
faith would not be found in many of our lives, 
and I could not but wonder at such a marvelous 
work of God." 

Just after Ishikawa's death a bullet struck 
Sergeant Matsubara ; and, being disabled, he was 
sent back to the hospital in Japan, where he told 
this story. 

After his recovery he was sent to Nagoya for 
a time, and promoted to sergeant-major of his 
regiment. 

As an indication of his character, Rev. Mr. 
McAlpine writes: "Sergeant Matsubara says; 
'Some soldiers are guilty of trying to hide their 
Christian faith before their comrades, but that 
is a great mistake. As for me, I put my Bible 
out on my table along with my other books.' 

"In connection with his new office, he is re- 
quired to make addresses to the soldiers under 
him. Whenever his turn comes, he openly takes 
a passage from the Scriptures and preaches to 
them. Sometimes the higher officers ask where 
he gets such interesting talks from; and he 
plainly tells them, it is from the Bible. He then 
enlarges upon the inexhaustible supply of truth 
in it, and the universality of its application. 
Other officers are sometimes troubled to find 



Miracles in Japan. 151 

something to speak about, but he always has inore 
than he can use, and finds it will always fit the 
circumstances. It was very interesting to hear 
him talk so enthusiastically of his new work. He 
can be the instrument in God's hands of great 
usefulness. He expected to leave for the front 
some time ago." 

— Rev. H. Loomis. 



:IO EISHO. 



Ho Eisho, a Chinese, came to Yokohama in 
1S65. His parents lived in Koseisho province of 
China, his father being a prosperous and famous 
paper manufacturer. Eisho was the only son in 
the family, his five sisters having died when very 
young; consequently, his parents loved him very 
much ; but when he was about twenty-three years 
of age, his father died and then his mother, soon 
after. This left him to launch out into the world 
by himself. He left his native place, and went 
to Shanghai as a tea merchant, and later, tc 
Hong Kong. Becoming still more ambitious to 
make money, he came to Yokohama for that pur- 
pose, although he knew it was running a great 
risk at that time, as it was a newly opened port, 
and many foreigners had been killed in riots, 
etc. As he did not know the language and had 
no friends, he had a hard time to make things 
go, as very few Japanese used Chinese tea then. 
Finally he hired out to a dealer in tea. He was 
so skillful, honest and faithful that his employer 
put much confidence in him, but for some reason 
he left this place, and, in partnership with anoth- 

152 



He 

-=■■ : - 



Ho Eisho. 



Miracles in Japan. 155 

er Chinese, began importing and dealing in Chi- 
nese rice and muslin. He was quite successful in 
this business and made a great deal of money. 
He once said to a friend that in a single deal in 
foreign goods he made a profit of 1,000 yen 
($500). Being much interested in the new enter- 
prise then opening up in Yokohama, he joined 
with and heloed foreign merchants who came to 
Yokohama, as well as some of the Japanese, such 
as H. Tanaka, S. Hiranuma, etc., now among 
the wealthiest men in Yokohama. 

As he thus gained wealth, a great change 
took place in him. He now owned houses and 
land in different parts of the city; went about 
in a jinrikisha dressed in silks, and was spoken 
of as the Chinese gentleman. He then married 
his favorite concubine, who owned much prop- 
erty and was quite a noted woman. However, 
the tide soon turned and misfortune came. For 
some reason he went into the interior of Japan 
for a while, leaving his entire business in the 
hands of a Japanese friend whom he trusted 
very much. During his absence letters concern- 
ing his business became unusually few and at 
last stopped altogether. This caused Eisho to 
feel uneasy concerning his Japanese friend, and 
he hastened back to Yokohama, only to find that 
he was a ruined man. He was swindled out of 
all his property, and this was accomplished so 



156 Miracles in Japan. 

skillfully that even the law could not do anything 
for. him. The Chinese who was in business with 
him destroyed all the records of the business and 
took what money remained. He made the remark 
to a friend: "My most intimate friends have 
taken everything I have, and, that not being 
enough, are seeking night and day for an oppor- 
tunity to take my life." 

But, through all this misfortune, he still com- 
forted himself by the thought that he yet had a 
heart treasure in his beloved wife. However, 
he soon found she was changed toward him, 
when he became poor, and would have nothing 
more to do with him. This seemed more than 
he could stand. His sorrow and disappointment 
were inexpressible. Going to the Kanazawa 
mountain, he stayed there thirty-four days, look- 
ing into the sky day and night, and thinking over 
the past. At last becoming desperate, he went 
to Nishi No Hashi bridge, in Yokohama, and 
threw himself into the river, to put an end to 
his miserable life, but a policeman, who was 
standing near and saw what had happened, res- 
cued him. He then fasted twenty-four hours in 
order to kill himself, but did not die. He prayed 
to his gods, but received no relief. He then 
went into the interior and became a lamp-mender. 
At Yamagata Ken he became very ill. The pro- 
prietor of the hotel where he stayed tried to find 



Miracles in Japan. 157 

out something of his friends and relatives, but 
could not, as Eisho had assumed a false name. 
Finally he confessed that he was a Chinese and 
was going under a pretended name. This greatly 
surprised the proprietor, who had the oolice send 
him to Yokohama immediately. Here he was 
put in a room of a small Japanese house, where 
he recovered and lived five years. He paid 
seventy-five sen a month rent, which he never 
failed to pay. 

In 1 89 1 he came in contact with a Christian, 
Kobayashi, who took him to the Methodist 
Church, and, some time later, the same brother 
took him to the Methodist prayer-meeting, which 
was in charge of Pastor Arihara. Kobayashi 
went to the pastor and told him about Eisho 
being present, and special prayer was made for 
his conversion. There were about fortv or more 
Christians present at the meeting, and earnest 
prayer was offered in Eisho's behalf. That being 
the week of prayer, the meetings continued, and 
during the meetines God answered prayer and 
rolled the burden of sin away and filled Eisho's 
heart with peace and joy. About a month after 
his conversion, he told the pastor that he was so 
happy, for he had for the first time in his life 
received true satisfaction, and gave the pastor all 
the money he had, and said he onlv wished he 
had more to give to the L,qrd. 



158 Miracles in Japan. 

At the time of the Gifu earthquake, he was 
the first to contribute to the relief fund, and often 
surprised the people by his liberality and sacrifice 
in giving. He still went about fixing lamps, but 
was preaching the Gospel of Christ to everyone 
as he went on with his work. The oeople patron- 
ized him a great deal, as he did good and cheap 
work, and was thus enabled to give the story of 
Christ to many who probably otherwise never 
would have heard it. Often while he was fixing 
a lamp along the street, he would start a hymn, 
gather a crowd around him and then preach to 
them. He never lost an opportunity to tell of 
God's love. Wherever he was found, he was 
always preaching. This seemed to be his con- 
tinual delight and pleasure. He would inquire 
into the present experiences of the believers in 
the church and elsewhere, and helped many who 
were discouraged, or who were passing through 
special trials. It is said that he knew the con- 
dition of the church members better than the 
pastor himself, and was always the first to visit 
those who were sick and in distress. During 
the time of the Japanese-Chinese War, children 
would sometimes be seen throwing stones at him 
and shouting: "Down with the pisftailed priest.'' 
This did not aflfect his earnestness for souls. 

In 1895, when our mission work was among 
both Chinese and Japanese, Eisho attended our 




Down with the pig-tail priest!" 




Sis Death-bed Scene. 



Miracles in Japan. 163 

Mission and helped us. The preaching was first 
interpreted from English to Japanese, and then 
he would interpret from Japanese into Chinese 
for his own people. After finishing, he would 
always hurry away to other meetings. 

In the fall of 1896 he was taken ill, and from 
September was not able to attend church. His 
physical strength had given way, but even then 
his love for the Master and his zeal and earnest- 
ness for souls was not changed. After he was 
taken to the hospital, he wished to go and tell the 
story of the Gospel, but was prevented by the 
doctors. His last testimony was that he was 
ready to die and had no fear of meeting his God, 
but lamented the fact that he could not do more 
for Christ, and he seemed to have a burden 
especially for the Jews, and nrayed much for 
them. His last words were : "Peace, peace." 



SAVED FROM SUICIDE AND A I,IFE OF 
DISSIPATION. 



"I was born in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa 
Prefecture, and fell to a very low, immoral man. 
When at Kanazawa I sometimes went to church 
and believed that Christianity was a tolerably 
good religion. My parents having died, I went 
to Osaka in 1897. Here I became a business 
man and later a policeman, and was married to 
a lady of Takada, Yamato Prefecture. I was 
naturally a lazy man and liked to lounge about 
so often went to the bad quarters. I also was a 
slave to drink and tobacco; so much so that 1 
had no power whatever to give them up. Even 
when on duty I would sometimes drink on the 
sly at the police-box, or go idling about at res- 
taurants, feasting and drinking. This happened 
so often that I was at last discharged from my 
position as policeman. Then I became a mer- 
chant and had eight other salesmen working for 
me. These went with me over much of the west- 
ern part of Japan, peddling goods. 

"In continually going to different places I 
found new, delicious things to feast on, and so, 

164 




Miraci.es in Japan. 165 

spent all the money I could get, drinking and 
feasting. The result was that it became impossi- 
ble to. carry on my business. My reputation was 
gone. Friends and relatives lost all confidence, 
forsook and turned from me. I was so poor that 
I could not buy medicine when sick, and was 
unable to support my family. We then sep- 
arated; my wife, taking our three-year-old boy, 
went to her home, where she was supported by 
her relatives. 

"A man near Osaka took pity on me and took 
me in. I had no peace, no joy; onlv disap- 
pointment and dissatisfaction filled my heart. 1 
was perplexed and knew not what to do. One 
evening at sunset, in 1901, I started out, not 
knowing where I was going, in spite of all per- 
suasion to stay. Before reaching Higashiigaino 
village, I suddenly became sick and had severe 
pain. After lying on the grass a while, I went 
on a short distance and asked to stop all night 
at a friend's house. The man being absent, I 
was refused this. I came to Momotani station 
crossing and suddenly I decided to take my life; 
so, sitting down on the railway track, I waited 
for the train to come. While sitting there, many 
things passed through my mind. I thought of 
my wife and child and of my past sins. I was 
convicted of the awfulness of my sinful ways, 
and was in great distress. Then, wondering 



1 66 Miracles in Japan. 

where my soul would go after death, I became 
afraid to die, and was in awful agony of soul. 
Hearing the sound of the train coming toward 
me, I jumped off the track before I hardly knew 
what I was doing. 

"For a while I stood bewildered. It. is im- 
possible to tell what a peculiar feeling I had. I 
was then reminded of the Christian teaching I 
had heard at my villa'ge. I had heard that God 
is a God of love, and I wondered if it could bt 
possible that He loved even me. I decided 10 
attend church again when the way opened. 

"From here I went and hunted work and later 
sent for my wife and child. We lived together 
in a very small room in loneliness, with no joy 
of hope 1 

"One day in the summer of 190^ a peddler, 
^selling ame (wheat jelly), gathered the children 
together in front of our home and taught them 
about God. My wife bought some of the ame 
and the man stepped into the house and said: 
'There is a Gospel meeting to-night; please 
come.' When I returned, my wife told me about 
it, and I went to the meeting that night. I in- 
quired for the ame peddler, and he was rejoiced 
that I had come. Going to ;that meeting was 
•almost like going to heaven to me. The address 
was about the prodigal son ; that God is waiting 
to welcome back penitent sinners ; that Jesus died 



MiracIvKs in Japan. 167 

in our stead to save us from sin; and that God 
would save and welcome home even a poor prod- 
igal like myself. After hearing these blessed 
words, I repented with tears, confessing my sins 
to God. That night He forgave all my past sins 
and I felt I was His child, and was filled with 
unspeakable joy. My wife also was converted 
and happy. After this my relatives and friends, 
who formerly would have nothing to do with me, 
gladly took me into their confidence and trusted 
me again. I am now living in happiness with 
joy and peace in my heart, and have for the 
future a hooe of everlasting life and eternal joy. 

"K. Kago." 



HOSODA SAN. 



"I was born at Shiba, Edo (now Tokyo), 58 
years ago. Father died when I was but ten years 
old and mother was left alone to support us three 
children. We became very poor, but I was good 
to mother, and did all I could to help her. When 
but a child, I was taught to worship at the tem- 
ples, and often went there to pray. At the age 
of 18 I became a jinrikisha-puller, and in this 
way helped to support the rest of the family. I 
was called a filial child by all who knew me, as I 
tried to obey and be kind to mother. However, 
I changed and became a great drunkard. It is 
a Japanese custom to drink a little on occasions 
of festivity. This was the beginning of my 
downward career. I despised myself, and often 
wished and tried to stop drinking, but could not. 
Once I cut off my hair (then worn tied up in a 
knot on the top of the head), and offered it to 
the gods at the temple, making a vow never to 
drink again. I held out a month, but could hold 
out no longer. My hair was gone, but not my 
appetite for drink; it seemed to take worse hold 
on me than ever. 

168 







Hosoda San. 









s 



Miracles in Japan. 171 

"At the age of twenty I was hired out as 
jinrikisha-puller for a foreigner. I tried never 
to be found drunk or drinking in time of duty, 
but could not always hide it. I used to put 
liquor instead of water in the hot-water bottle 
to put at my mistress' feet at night, and then 
would drink it while waiting. 

"I was sometimes found lying on the steets 
dead drunk. I at last was much discouraged 
because of this evil habit After this I worked 
for different foreigners until I was hired by Rev. 
Spencer at Aoyama, Tokyo, on condition that I 
must attend church on Sunday and family prayer 
every morning. I didn't like it a bit, but it 
could n't be helped. It made me feel quite 
ashamed sometimes, after having said bad things 
about Christianity, to attend the meetings and be 
treated kindly by everyone. Their patience with 
me was surprising, and I felt that if they were so 
interested in me, I ought to inquire into Christi- 
anity anyway. Everyone seemed to be praying 
for me, and when at the meetings everything 
seemed to be said for me. This caused me to lis- 
ten more attentively and inquire into the way of 
salvation. Because of this someone thought I 
was converted, and so gave my name, with many- 
others, to the Japanese pastor, as a candidate for 
baptism. It was not easy to refuse, so I was bap- 
tized with the rest, but it wasn't, a very pleasant 



172 Miracles in Japan. 

day for me, for I knew it was not from my heart, 
and that I was not saved. I was a baptized 
church-member, but a sinful man still. 

"I continued to drink and often quarreled 
with my wife. Once I beat her on tne head and 
made an ugly wound. Rev. Spencer called me in 
one day for a talk. It being a week or so after 
the quarrel took place, I had no idea he would say 
anything about that, but thought he might have 
a present for me. He said : 'How did your wife 
get that wound on her head?' I thought to my- 
self that such things were none of his business, 
and that now I was done with Christianity. I 
answered boldly, 'We had a quarrel.' He was 
silent for a moment, as if surprised and grieved, 
then said: 'If you are sorry for this conduct, I 
am very glad.' I was greatly surprised, for, in- 
stead of getting angry and discharging me, as I 
thought he would do, he spoke kindly, trying to 
get me to repent of my sins. Being convicted 
and ashamed, I tried hard to do better, and con- 
cealed my drinking as much as possible. 

"Mr. Spencer went to Nagoya and I went to 
work for Rev. Dr. Warden, who moved to Yoko- 
hama. Here I continued my drinking and fam- 
ily quarreling. One day, as I was running up 
stairs after my wife, I met Rev. Warden, and he 
stopped me. I thought perhaps he was going to 
raise my wages. However, he had smelled the 






Miracles in Japan. 175 

liquor, and exhorted me to give up drink and 
sign the temperance pledge. This I did, but in 
two weeks went on drinking just the same as 
ever. 

"One day I was talking to my eleven-year- 
old boy about the awful habit of drink, that he 
should early join the Temperance Union, and 
never begin the habit, etc., etc. He looked up 
and said : 'Father, what shall I do when you send 
me to the saloon to buy liquor for you.' This 
pierced my heart, and I again determined to 
stop, but could not hold out long. My child died 
and sin caused separation from my wife. I 
began working for another foreigner (a busi- 
ness man), but continued drinking and quarrel- 
ing with my master. I finally decided to go to 
America. The saloon-keeper, with whom I left a 
debt of five yen, gave me six bottles of beer the 
morning I left. These I took with me, but was 
met at the wharf by Ho Eisho, an earnest Chris- 
tian Chinese, who, seeing these, reproved me 
sharply and exhorted me to give up my evil 
ways. At the time I was very angry at him, but 
now I am very thankful for having received his 
reproof. 

"I went to America, and found a position 
near San Francisco, where I remained for rive 
months. After that, I stayed at a Christian 
boarding-house for some time. Here I did not 



176 Miracles in Japan. 

feel at home, as I did not like to attend prayers 
and meeting, so found another place. When the 
pastor would meet me, he would always reprove 
me for not attending church, so I avoided meet- 
ing him as much as possible. One day I saw him 
coming down the street, and seeing no way of 
escape, I quickly put my lighted cigar in my 
pocket to hide it. While talking, my handker- 
chief took fire and burned my hand, which gave 
me much pain, so before I realized it I had prom- 
ised to attend church and return to the ooarding- 
house. This I did, but complaints were made 
about me smelling of liquor so much that I used 
to eat onions to destroy the smell. I used often 
to pray for help, but was never really delivered. 
"A new pastor came, who was very earnest, 
and one Wednesday night at prayer-meeting con- 
viction took hold of me. The next morning I 
went to family prayers because I really wanted 
to go. Going in, I went to a chair, knelt down 
and began to pray. A flood of tears choked back 
the words I tried to utter. The Holy Spirit was 
working with me, and right there God heard my 
prayer and saved me. It was on the 3d of 
March, 1885, at six o'clock in the morning. I 
was so changed and happy that, when alone, 1 
was continually praising and thanking God. I 
was delivered from drink, but never thought of 
giving up tobacco at the same time. However, 




Miracles in Japan. 177 

when I took out my tobacco, it seemed so wrong 
and out of place that I threw it away, and after 
that had no desire for it, either. 

"I now became a better cook and did my 
work well when unseen as well as when seen, for 
I did everything as unto the Lord. My expe- 
rience of salvation was too good to keep to my- 
self, and I wished to tell everyone. I heard of 
the Salvation Army having an open-air meeting. 
Two days after I was saved, I went with a friend 
and testified to what God had done for me, al- 
though it was an English meeting and I spoke 
Japanese. I wondered afterwards why they did 
not laugh at me. I saw no one laugh, but all 
looked serious. From that day to this, I have 
been testifying to what God has done for me 
wherever I have a chance, for I can't keep still. 
I worked hard, and, saving about 2,000 yen, I 
came back to Japan again, determined to work 
and live for Christ. Here t 1 opened up a res- 
taurant, giving European food, and left it in the 
hands of a nephew. However, not selling liquor, 
customers were few, and at last I had to sell out 
at a great loss. It was a time of severe testing 
and trial to me. I was very much helped spirit- 
ually and encouraged by attending one of Eisho's 
memorial services. I decided to again go to 
America to earn more money to use for God's 
work and His glory. 



178 Miraci^s in Japan. 

"After working again seven years, I saved 
over 4,000 yen, and returned to Japan to spend 
the remainder of my days and means for God 
and the temperance cause. Now I am going 
from place to place, telling what Christ has done 
for me, in saving and keeping such a drunkard 
as I was, and exhorting others to believe in him. 
This is the way I expect to spend the remainder 
of my life." 

[He donated 2,000 yen of his money to his 
church (M. E. Church at Yokohama), to con- 
tinue supporting a worker to visit the Christians. 
He also got a set of magic lantern views illus- 
trating his former life and the change after con- 
version. These are used in his Gospel and tem- 
perance meetings, which makes his testimony 
very convincing to unbelievers.] 



SAVED FROM DRINK. 



"August 15, 1905, was the turning-point in 
my life. The night I was set free from being 
a slave to sin. God, in His great love, led me 
to where I could receive the hope of a glorious 
heaven. Praise and glory be to Him ! 

"My native place is Oo village, near Osaka. 
It is a most beautiful place for natural scenery. 
Notwithstanding this, the terrible evil power got 
control of me. My father was an honest, candid 
man, but fond of drink ; so I also learned to drink 
at the age of ten years. I went to school until I 
was fifteen years old, and then, my parents being 
very poor, I was compelled to stop school. I 
continued my studies at home, while helping my 
parents. At the age of seventeen I left home and 
began to work for the railroad company in 
Kyushu. This was a big step downward. I was 
young in years, but drank as much or more than 
a man. I was promoted in business and received 
more wages, which I spent in going to disrep- 
utable houses. One cannot stop at drinking alone, 
for it is sure to lead them on to other sins. I 
lived as low and profligate a life as possible, so 

179 



180 Miraci^s in Japan. 

at the age of twenty-three I was taken sick and 
gave up my work. I then came to Yokohama, 
and, through the help of a friend, got a position 
with the understanding that I would not drink. 
This effort was, of course, made in human 
power and was a failure, as others find the same. 
I failed again, and, by and by, everyone lost con- 
fidence in me. One night I got drunk and made 
much trouble and disturbance. From that time 
all gave me up as a hopeless case, and friends 
turned me out. Again I determined to reform 
and decided never to drink again. I held out 
a while, as I tried my very best; but, having the 
appetite from a child, I found it impossible to 
hold out longer, so fell again. 

"On the 15th of August I started for the 
theatre, but as I passed I noticed the Gospel meet- 
ing and unconcernedly stopped in. That night 
Kimura San preached, and I somehow felt he 
was preaching just to me. At the close of the 
meeting he asked all who wished to give up sin 
and believe in Jesus as their Savior to raise their 
hands. Then a struggle began in my heart, but 
finally I raised my hand and showed my desire. 
From that time, Bros. Takeda and Kimura led 
and taught me until my doubts and fears were 
all cleared away. The appetite for drink that 1 
had so long been in bondage to vanished like a 
mist and I received grace to go forth in the way 






Miracles in Japan. 181 

of the Lord Jesus. I was filled with comfort and 
peace. I then realized this experience of salva- 
tion is the most blessed thing in the world. Wish- 
ing to testify about it to others, I often came to 
the Mission, and here, as well as on the streets, 
together with others, exhorted people to repent 
and believe in Jesus. 

"I have had many temptations and trials, but 
Jesus has taken possession of my heart, leads me, 
and fills me with comfort and joy. In time of 
sickness, affliction, and last fall when my mother 
died, Jesus gave me special comfort and grace. 

"Last year, 1907, I consecrated myself to 
preach the Gospel, and, giving up my business, 
became a student in the Baptist Theological 
School. I have no hopes of becoming a famous 
preacher, but I can and expect to continue to 
testify, as I now do daily, to what I know Christ 
has done for me. Thank God for His grace and 
glory. Igawa San." 



A LITTLE GIRL, A TESTAMENT, AND A 
ROBBER. 



Some eighteen years ago the chaplain of the 
Kushiro prison in Japan observed that one of 
the prisoners had in his possession a copy of 
the New Testament. Mr. Hara (the chaplain) 
thought it very strange, as the man had an 
especially wicked face and was apparently one 
of the worst criminals. Mr. Hara asked him 
why it was that he, being an ignorant man and 
quite unable to read, had obtained and carried 
a copy of the Testament. At first, the man made 
no reply, but, when the question was repeated, 
he simply remarked: "This book is something I 
prize very highly." Not being satisfied with this 
answer, Mr. Hara asked again in order to find 
out how it happened that such a man should put 
so high a value upon the Word of God. He then 
said: "I am a sinner. Heaven will help me to 
Keep from sin. Please allow me to tell my story." 

He then gave an account of his life and how 
he came into possession of the book. His name 
was Sadajiro Maki, and he had spent most of 
his life in sin, as he was a professional burglar. 

. 182 



Miracles in Japan. 183 

At one time he joined another thief, who 
knew the place well, and they went to the Mission 
School at No. 212 Bluff, Yokohama. It was a 
dark night, and they crept in through a kitchen 
window and went to the room where the girls 
slept and took what money and clothing they 
could find. As they were going up the stairs, he 
heard the sound of a voice and inquired of his 
companion what it was, as he thought perhaps 
they had been heard. His companion said, laugh- 
ingly: "That is someone praying. They are 
asking their God to protect them because they are 
afraid." 

When they entered the room where the girls 
were, they found one of them was engaged in 
prayer. They took her clothes, and, as they 
were making them into a bundle, she lifted up 
her head and quietly said : "Please leave me one 
garment which my mother made and sent to me 
to remember her by." As it was of no great 
value, it was given back. 

As they were about to leave, she called to 

them and said: "Please take this and read it." 

And at the same time she offered them a small 

book. Thinking it was of no use to them, they 

threw it away. The things that were stolen were 

taken to the house of an accomplice, and Mr. 

Maki concealed himself lest he should be arrested. 

On the third day he went to the house of his 
ic— 



1 84 Miracms in Japan. 

friend, who had already been arrested, and a 
policeman was there waiting for him. Not 
knowing what had happened, he called out, "Are 
you at home?" Someone answered from within, 
and then the policeman, coming out, said: "I 
have some questions to ask you, so come with me 
to the police station." He went quietly with the 
detective, as it did not occur to him that he could 
have easily overcome the little man who was 
conducting him, until it was too late, and he was 
shut up in jail. 

The next day he was brought before the 
police inspector, and many of the school-girls, 
whose clothes had been stolen, were called as 
witnesses against him. The inspector then 
showed him a book, and said : "Do you recognize 
this? This was the book that was given to you 
when you were at the school. The girls heard 
that you had been arrested and they have brought 
it to present it to you again. By reading this, 
you will be brought to repentance. You have 
done very Wrong, but Christians are accustomed 
to treat their enemies with kindness." 

Such conduct impressed him very deeply. He 
did not know before what the religion of Jesus 
Christ was, that it leads people to do good to all. 
Reflecting upon these things, he was filled with 
shame and remorse, and from that time he de- 
cided to turn from his sinful ways and lead a new 






Miraci^s in Japan. 185 

life. Mr. Hara prayed with and for the men 
very earnestly, and taught him how to read. Mr. 
Maki was very anxious to learn and made steady 
progress, so that it was not long before he was 
able to read the Testament himself. The truth 
entered his heart and he became a new man. 
From his youth he had led a wandering life and 
had no knowledge of his family. When he was 
released, he had no home to go to, and at first 
went to the home of discharged convicts in To- 
kyo. Not only did he give up his former evil 
course, but he led his accomplice to repentance 
and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

He has returned to his former 'home at Uraga 
and lives there happily with his mother, whom 
he is able to support by his skill and industry. 
He . is a regular attendant at the house of wor- 
ship and is filled with gratitude to God for what 
He has done for him. When one of the mission- 
aries living at the school died, he came and asked 
that he might be one of the pallbearers, and thus 
show what a great change had taken place in 
his life. 

— Rev. H. Loomis {American Bible Society.) 



SAVED FROM SUICIDE. 



"I was born September 27, 1881, in the vil- 
lage of Hamamatsu, in S'hizuoka Prefecture. 
My father has a dry goods store. When a child 
I was proud because my parents were wealthy, 
and other children envied me. I had everything 
I wished for. At the age of fourteen I entered 
the Middle School and later went to Tokyo with 
the object of becoming a learned man. I was 
now, for the first time, among strangers. After 
a time I gave up school and got into bad com- 
pany, who led me to the bad quarters of the city. 
I became worse and worse and bad companions 
increased. I deceived my parents by lying to 
them and obtained money that was soon spent 
in sin. I would also steal money. Once I took 
380 yen ($190) from my father's safe, took a 
lot of jewels and my best suit of clothes and ran 
away to Tokyo. Here I frequented the bad quar- 
ters and spent fifty or sixty yen oer night. This 
made the police suspicious of me, and I was ar- 
rested. When I was nineteen years old I was 
especially given over to lewdness and lascivious- 
ness. One night I lied to the brothel-keeper and 

18/5 




Yamada San. 



Miraci.ES in Japan. 189 

borrowed money of him and went to Yokohama. 
Here I was discovered by relatives and given 
into the care of an uncle. For two or three years 
I helped him and did quite well; but, the old 
habits still having a hold upon me, I again began 
my old life of sin. I kept my sins hidden for 
some time ; but, becoming bolder at last, I did 
not return, home for several days. My uncle 
reproved me himself, but did not let my parents 
know about my condition. However, in some- 
way they heard about me and came often, about 
150 miles, to Yokohama, on purpose to reprove 
and correct me; but in spite of this I went from 
bad to worse. One night a family consultation 
was held concerning me, and I signed a contract 
to never again go to a disreputable house, but, 
of course, I could not keep it. On another such 
a meeting I promised to reform except on cer- 
tain nights. I could not even keep this promise. 
'"Once, because of my parents' earnest ex- 
hortations, I felt deeply my need of help and 
began to pray to some gods, and even swore to 
them that I would do better, but even that gave 
me no help. At last, my parents and relatives 
decided to disinherit me and have no more to do 
with me. Being much ashamed, I went to Tokyo 
and determined to start up business of my own 
and regain my reputation. I did well for one 
month, but then I fell again and my determina- 



190 Miracles in Japan. 

tion vanished. My money and clothes were soon 
all gone. I then ran up a bill at my boarding- 
house for two months. Through falsehoods I 
managed to get some money from a friend, but 
it was soon all gone. I went on in sin until I 
was extremely degraded. Then I was suddenly 
taken into service as a soldier. While so engaged 
I was about the worst man in the company. In 
three months I came back and was received at 
my home again. I was taken seriously, ill with 
a disease as the result of sin, and was treated at 
the hospital and other places for eight months. 
After getting a little better, I went back to my 
old life again. I also took to gambling and lost 
much. I borrowed some money of an uncle and 
started for Kobe. I was ap-ain disowned by my 
parents. 

"This time I again determined to reform; 
but, after looking one whole day for work and 
finding none, I was greatly discouraged. I finally 
became a workman of the lower class, but, not 
being used to hard labor, was compelled to give 
it up. Then I became a street peddler. Getting 
some money from a friend, I went to Tokyo on 
the 14th of November and got a position in a 
store, where I remained till March of the next 
year, when I was discharged. I then thought 
seriously of my past twenty-seven years of sinful, 
beastly life, and was ashamed and greatly trou- 



Miracles in Japan. 191 

bled. I was truly conscience-smitten. I felt that 
hell was about to swallow me up. I wished to 
end my life of misery, and went to the wharf at 
Yokohama with the intention of drowning my- 
self. I put stones in my sleeves ; then, regretting 
my sins, made ready to jump into the water. 
However, just then something (I know not 
what) seemed to stop me, and, hardly knowing 
what I was doing, I walked along Theatre Street. 
Here I found the Gospel Mission, and, going in, 
I heard the earnest preaching and testimonies. 
From the bottom of my heart I was convicted of 
my sins before God. Through the redemption 
of Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, I was 
forgiven of all my sins and became a child of 
God. From that time I was wonderfully changed. 
I was delivered and cleansed from drink, dissi- 
pation, tobacco, etc. My body gradually became 
strong. 

"Through the influence of a friend, my par- 
ents forgave me in October, 1907, and are now 
themselves inquiring the way of salvation. Isn't 
it marvelous ? Truly it is God's grace I Through 
God's grace and power I have been able to live 
uprightly and righteously. Praise God for the 
way He blesses those who trust and believe in 
Him. However, their responsibility becomes 
greater. Praise the name of the Lord! 

"Yam ada Sax." 



192 Miracles in Japan. 

[Yamada San has for several months been 
working as a harbor policeman. One night, 
while on duty, he found and saved the life of a 
poor drunken German sailor, who had fallen into 
the water and was drowning, at the very same 
place he had before planned to drown himself.] 




Entrance to Inari Temple in Kyoto. 



AUG 8 WB 






y 



